University  of  California  •  Berkeley 


From  the  library 

of 
JAMES  D.  HART 


THE  WHITE  CHIEE 


AMONG 


THE  RED  MEN; 


OR, 


KNIGHT    OF    THE    GOLDEN    MELICE 

i     si0ntal 


BY 

THE   AUTHOR  OF   "  THE   LOST    HUNTER." 


"  One     «  *      *      *      *     calling  himself  *****      Knight  of  the 

Golden  Melice." 

Winthi'oj)'8  History  of  New  England. 


NEW  YORK : 
DERBY  &  JACKSON,  119  NASSAU  STREET. 

1859. 


ENTERED,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1856,  by 

JOHN  TURVILL  ADAMS, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  for  the  Southern  District  of 
New  York. 


H.     L.     A. 

To  whom  but  to  yourself,  my  H.,  should  I  dedicate  this  Romance, 
which  may  be  said  to  be  the  fruit  of  our  mutual  studies  ?  With  what 
delight  I  have  watched  the  unfolding,  like  a  beautiful  flower,  of  your 
youthful  mind,  while  instead  of  indulging  in  frivolous  pursuits,  so 
common  to  your  age,  you  have  applied  yourself  to  the  acquiring  of 
useful  knowledge  as  well  as  of  elegant  accomplishments,  none  but  a 
parent  can  know.  Accept  what  I  have  written,  my  darling,  as  a 
tribute  to  a  love  which  makes  the  happiness  of  my  life. 

J.  T.  A. 


INTRODUCTORY  CHAPTER. 


H*  cast,  (of  which  we  rather  boast,) 
The  Gospel's  pearl  upon  our  coast, 
And  in  these  rocks  for  us  did  frame 
A  temple  where  to  sound  Hi*  name, 
O  let  our  voice  His  praise  exalt 
Till  it  arrive  at  Heaven's  vault, 
Which  there  perhaps  rebounding  may 
Echo  beyond  the  Mexic  bay. 
Thus  sang  they,  in  the  English  boat, 
A  holy  and  a  cheerful  note, 
And  all  the  way  to  guide  their  chime, 
With  falling  oars  they  kept  the  time. 

Andrew  MarveWs  "  Emigrants  in  the  Bermuda*," 

THE  beginning  of  the  17th  century  is  an  interesting 
epoch  in  American  annals.  Although  the  Atlantic  coast 
of  that  vast  country  now  comprised  within  the  limits  of 
the  United  States  and  Canada  had  previously  been  traced 
by  navigators,  and  some  little  knowledge  acquired  of  the 
tribes  of  red  men  who  roamed  its  interminable  forests,  no 

1 


10  INTRODUCTORY  CHAPTER. 

attempt  at  colonization  worthy  of  the  name  had  succeeded. 
The  principal,  if  not  the  only  advantage  derived  from  the 
discovery   of  North  America,  came  from  the  fisheries  of 
Newfoundland  and  Labrador,  frequented  mostly  by  the 
adventurous  mariners  of  England,  France  and  Spain.     In 
these  cold  seas,  to  the  music  of  storms  howling  from  the 
North  Pole,  and  dashing  with  ceaseless  rage  the  salt  spray 
against  the  rocky  shore,  they   threw  their  lines  and  cast 
their  nets,  at  the  same  time  enriching  themselves,  and  form 
ing  for  their   respective  countries  a  race  of  hardy  and 
skilful  sailors.     The   land  attracted  them   not.     The  in 
ducements  which  led  to  the  more  speedy  conquest  and 
settlement  of  South  America  by  the  Spaniards,  were  want 
ing.     Gold  and  silver  to  tempt  cupidity  were  not  to  be 
found,  and  the  stern,  though  not  inhospitable  character  of 
the  Northern  tribes  was  very  different  from  the  imbecile 
effeminacy  of  the  Southern  races.     The  opposition  likely 
to  be  encountered  was  more  formidable,  and  the  prize  to 
be  won  hardly  proportioned  to  the  hazard  to  be  incurred. 
While,  therefore,  the  atrocious  Spaniards  were  enslaving 
the  helpless  natives  of  Peru  and  Mexico,  and  compelling 
them  by  horrid  cruelties  to  deliver  up  their  treasures,  the 
wild  woods  of  all  that  region  to  the  north  of  the  Gulf 
bearing  the  name  of  the  latter  country,  continued  to  ring 
to  the  free  shout  of  the  tawny  hunter.     Not  that  attempts 
had  not  been  made  to  obtain  footing  on  the  continent,  but 
they  had  all  failed  by  reason  of  the  character  of  the  emi. 


INTRODUCTORY   CHAPTER.  11 

grants,  or  the  want  of  support  from  home,  or  of  a  thousand 
oiher  causes  reducible  to  the  category  of  ill  luck,  bad 
management,  or  providential  determination. 

But  the  17th  century  introduced  a  new  order  of  things, 
beginning  with  the  arrival  of  the  first  permanent  colony 
on  the  coast  of  Virginia  in  the  year  1607,  indissolubly  as 
sociated  with  the  name  of  the  chivalrous  Captain  John 
Smith  ;  followed  in  1614  by  the  occupancy  of  the  mouth 
of  the  river  Hudson,  and  of  the  island  of  Manhattan-,  the 
present  site  of  the  city  of  New- York,  by  the  Dutch  ;  and, 
in  1623,  of  New-England,  by  the  English.  The  fulness  of 
time  had  arrived,  when  the  seeds  ->f  a  mighty  empire  were 
to  be  sown. 

A  diversity  of  opinion  prevails  with  regard  to  the  mo 
tives  of  the  early  colonists  to  leave  their  homes.  Without 
entering  into  an  elaborate  discussion  of  the  subject,  and 
thereby  invading  the  province  of  the  historian,  it  may  per 
haps  be  permitted  me  to  say,  that,  in  my  judgment,  they 
were  partly  political,  partly  religious,  partly  commercial, 
and  partly  adventurous. 

One  of  the  first  acts  of  James  the  First  of  England,  on 
his  accession  to  the  throne  in  1603,  was  the  conclusion,  by  a 
peace  with  Spain,  of  the  long  war  so  gloriously  signalized 
by  the  destruction  of  the  Armada.  The  pacific  policy 
wherewith  he  began  his  administration,  he  never  aban 
doned  during  the  twenty-two  years  while  he  held  the 
sceptre.  Hence  the  spirit  of  enterprise  which  exists  in 


12  INTRODUCTORY   CHAPTER. 

various  degrees  in  every  flourishing  nation,  rinding  itself 
diverted  from  that  warlike  channel  wherein  it  had  been 
accustomed  to  flow,  was  obliged  to  seek  other  issues. 
The  immense  region  beyond  the  sea.  claimed  by  England 
by  priority  of  discovery,  offered  a  theatre  for  a  portion  of 
that  spirit  to  expend  itself  upon.  Hither  turned  their  eyes 
those  who,  in  the  wars,  had  contracted  a  fondness  for  ad 
venture,  and  were  unwilling  to  sink  back  into  the  peaceful 
pursuits  of  laborious  industry.  For  such  men,  the  vague 
and  the  uncertain  possess  irresistible  attractions.  For 
them,  emigration  was  like  the  hazard  of  the  gaming-table ; 
ruin  was  a  possible  consequence,  but  fortune  mi^ht  also 
crown  the  most  extravagant  hopes.  The  merchant  re 
garded  with  favor  a  scheme  which  would  furnish  employ 
ment  for  his  ships  by  the  transportation  of  men  and  stores. 
Besides,  the  fisheries  had  always  been  productive  ;  they 
might  be  largely  extended,  and  a  trade  in  furs  and  other 
products  of  the  country  opened  with  the  Indians.  Per 
haps  the  precious  metals,  found  in  such  quantities  by  the 
Spaniards  at  the  South,  might  enrich  the  North.  Happily 
they  found  not  that  pernicious  bane  which  is  alike  the  cor- 
rupter  of  private  morals  and  the  debaucher  of  nations. 
To  these  considerations  may  be  added  a  willingness  at 
least  on  the  part  of  the  government,  to  rid  itself  of  idle 
profligates  and  unruly  spirits.  Guided  by  this  chart,  it  is 
not  difficult  to  understand  why  efforts  similar  to  those 
which  had  proved  abortive,  should  now  be  successful. 


INTKODUCTOKY   CHAPTER.  13 

The  character  of  the  first  emigrants  to  the  Virginia 
colony,  and  the  products  of  the  country  sent  home,  confirm 
these  views.  They  are  described  as  u  many  gentlemen, 
a  few  laborers,  several  refiners,  goldsmiths,  and  jewellers," 
arid  the  returning  ships  were  freighted  with  cedar  and  with  a 
glittering  earth,  which  was  mistaken  for  gold.  Another  par 
ty  is  spoken  of  by  a  chronicler  of  the  times,  as  "  many  un 
ruly  gallants  sent  hither  by  their  friends  to  escape  ill  desti 
nies."  Doubtless  among  those  denominated  gentlemen  and 
gallants  were  some  noble  souls,  like,  though  longo  intervallo, 
to  the  heroic  Smith. 

While  the  Virginia  colony  was  slowly  struggling 
against  adverse  circumstances,  and  attracting  to  herself  the 
cavaliers  who,  in  various  capacities  and  with  different  for 
tunes,  had  figured  in  those  troubled  times,  important 
changes  were  going  on  at  home  destined  to  exert  a  mighty 
influence  on  the  New  World.  That  awakening  of  the 
intellect  occasioned  by  the  speculations  of  Wyckliff,  the 
morning  star  of  the  Reformation,  more  than  two  hundred 
years  before,  and  to  which  Luther  and  Calvin  had  imparted 
a  fresh  impulse,  was  performing  its  destined  work.  By 
the  assertion  of  the  right  of  ^private  judgment  in  matters 
of  religion,  the  pillars  of  authority  had  been  shaken. 
Nothing  was  considered  as  too  sacred  to  be  examined. 
To  the  tribunal  of  the  mind  of  every  man,  however  undis 
ciplined  and  illiterate,  were  brought,  like  criminals  to  be 
tried,  the  profoundest  mysteries  and  most  perplexing  ques- 


14  INTRODUCTORY   CHAPTER, 

tions  of  theology,  and  in  proportion  to  the  ignorance  of  the 
judge,  was  the  presumption  with  which  sentence  was  pro 
nounced.  A  genera]  love  of  dogma  prevailed.  The  cross- 
legged  tailor  plying  his  needle  on  his  raised  platform  ;  the 
cobbler  in  the  pauses  of  beating  the  leather  on  his  lap- 
stone  ;  and 'the  field-laborer  as  he  rested  on  his  spade  ;  dis 
cussed  with  serene  and  satisfied  assurance  problems,  be 
fore  the  contemplation  of  which,  the  ripest  learning  and 
highest  order  of  mind  had  veiled  their  faces.  Dissatisfac 
tion  with  the  condition  of  things  spread  more  and  more. 
All,  in  both  Church  and  State,  was  considered  out  of  joint. 
The  former  had  not  sufficiently  cleansed  herself  from  the 
pollutions  of  Rome,  and  lagging  behind  at  a  wide  distance 
from  the  primitive  model,  required  to  be  further  reformed  ; 
the  latter  by  encroachments  on  the  liberties  of  the  subject, 
and  assistance  furnished  to  a  corrupt  hierarchy,  had  be 
come  odious,  and  was  to  be  resisted  and  restrained.  The 
idea  of  abolishing  the  monarchy  had  indeed  not  entered 
the  mind  of  the  most  daring  reformer  ;  but  it  is  certain,  that 
when  his  feelings  were  inflamed  by  brooding  over  real  and 
fancied  wrongs  from  the  established  Church,  his  anger 
would  overflow  upon  the  government,  which,  with  no 
sparing  hand,  wielded  the  sword  to  enforce  pains  and 
penalties,  imposed,  ostensibly  for  the  protection  of  religion, 
but  in  reality  for  the  interests  of  an  ally  and  its  own  safety. 
U  was  this  exaspeiation,  partly  of  a  religious  and  partly  of 


INTRODUCTORY   CHAPTER.  15 

a  political  nature,  that  bore  its  legitimate  fruit  in  the  exe 
cution  of  Charles. 

Before  that  awful  lesson,  however,  discontent  had  in 
creased  until  the  unhappy  zealots,  too  feeble  to  resist,  yet 
too  resolute  to  submit,  determined  to  leave  their  country. 
Hard  fate  !  Self-banished  from  the  associations  of  child 
hood,  from  the  memorials  of  their  ancestors  !  But  whither 
should  they  fly  ?  They  had  heard  indeed  of  a  country,  far 
beyond  the  sea,  where  a  refuge  might  be  found,  and  whither 
some  of  their  countrymen  had  gone ;  but  those  first  emi 
grants  were  cavaliers,  men  of  the  same  creed  as  their  per 
secutors,  and  who  had  been  induced  to  leave  England  by 
motives  different  from  those  which  controlled  their  minds. 
Their  purpose  would  not  be  attained  by  joining  the  Vir 
ginia  colony.  They  were  not  merely  adventurers,  hunting 
after  earthly  treasures,  but  pilgrims  in  search  of  the  king 
dom  of  heaven.  Their  company  consisted  of  delicate 
women  and  children,  from  whom  they  could  not  part,  as 
well-  as  of  hardy  men ;  and  such  were  unfit  to  encounter 
the  perils  of  a  new  settlement,  in  an  untried  climate,  and 
an  unknown  country,  infested  by  savages.  Their  principal 
want  was  religious  liberty  ;  that  they  could  find  in  Holland, 
and  to  Holland  they  went.  It  was  close  at  hand,  and 
should  any  favorable  change  occur  in  England,  it  would 
be  easy  to  return.  But  after  an  experience  of  some  dozen 
years,  they  found  insuperable  objections  to  remaining  there, 
and  determined,  no  such  changes  having  taken  place  as 


16  INTRODUCTORY  CHAPTER. 

they  anticipated  when  they  left  their  native  land,  to  emi 
grate  to  America.  In  a  season  of  the  year  as  stern  as  the 
mood  of  their  own  minds,  they  sought  the  stormy  shores 
of  New-England,  and  their  example  was  soon  followed  by 
others  direct  from  the  parent  country.  This  first  column 
was  composed  exclusively  of  Protestants,  who  had  refused 
conformity  to  the  established  Church,  or  as  they  were 
called,  Puritans.  Later  arrivals  brought  more  mixed  com 
panies,  but  still  the  Puritan  element  always  largely  pre 
vailed.  Now  separated  by  an  ocean  from  kings  and 
bishops,  they  resolved  to  realize  the  darling  idea  which, 
like  the  fiery  pillar  before  the  wandering  Israelites,  had 
conducted  them  across  the  sea,  and  that  was  the  estab 
lishment  of  a  commonwealth  after  the  model  of  perfection 
which  they  fondly  imagined  they  had  discovered.  And 
where  should  they  find  that  perfect  system,  except  in  the 
awful  and  mysterious  volume  wherein  was  the  revelation 
of  God's  will,  and  which,  with  a  devotion  that  had  impressed 
its  every  syllable  on  their  minds,  they  had  day  and  night 
been  studying  ?  Was  there  not  contained  therein  a  form 
of  government  which  He  had  given  to  his  favored  people ; 
and  what  did  both  reason  and  piety  suggest  but  to  accom 
modate  it  to  their  circumstances  ?  All  things  favored  the 
undertaking.  They  were  at  too  great  a  distance  to  be 
easily  molested  by  their  enemies :  the  distracted  condition 
of  the  government  at  home  afforded  little  opportunity  for 
a  strict  supervision  of  their  affairs  ;  and  the  few  savages 


INTRODUCTORY   CHAPTER.  17 

in  their  neighborhood  left  by  the  devastating  pestilence 
wherewith  Providence  had  swept  the  new  Canaan,  in  order 
to  make  room  for  them,  they  soon  found  powerless  before 
the  terror  of  their  fire-arms.  By  excluding  all  whom  it 
was  their  pleasure  to  call  lewd  and  debauched,  or,  in  other 
words,  who  differed  from  them  in  opinion,  from  participa 
tion  in  the  government,  they  expected  to  avoid  confusion, 
and  secure  the  blessing  of  heaven.  It  is  absurd  to  suppose 
that  human  pride,  and  ambition,  and  avarice  did  not  in 
trude  into  these  visions  of  a  reign  of  the  saints  on  earth, 
but  unquestionably  notions  like  these  exerted  a  strong  in 
fluence.  They  established  their  commonwealth  upon  their 
theocratic  model,  and  commenced  the  experiment. 

Soon,  in  logical  and  honest  sequence  with  the  princi 
ples  which  they  professed,  followed  a  system  of  persecution 
rivaling  that  of  which  they  complained  in  England.  To 
be  true  to  themselves  and  creed,  they  were  obliged  to 
adopt  it.  We  may  do  as  we  please  ;  we  may  say  that  the 
fanatical  notion,  the  horrid  Erinnys,  the  baleful  mother  of 
woes  innumerable,  that  the  dogmas  of  religion  may  right 
fully  be  enforced  by  the  sword  of  the  civil,  power,  domi 
nated  the  world,  and  in  this  way  account  for  their  con 
duct  ;  or  apologize  for  it  by  the  necessities  of  their  situa 
tion,  and  the  peculiarities  of  their  creed  ;  or  combine  these 
causes,  and  so  extenuate  what  cannot  be  defended. 

I  can  well  understand  how  a  Puritan  of  16 —  would  jus 
tify  his  rigor.  His  opinion  of  himself  would  be  like  that 

1* 


18  INTRODUCTORY   CHAPTER. 

of  the  amiable  Governor  Winthrop,  as  found  in  his  first 
will,  (omitted,  however,  in  his  second,)  as  one  "  adopted 
to  be  the  child  of  God,  and  an  heir  of  everlasting  life,  and 
that  of  the  mere  and  free  favor  of  God,  who  hath  elected 
me  to  be  a  vessel  of  glory."  Such  was  the  Puritan  in  his 
own  eyes.  He  was  the  chosen  of  heaven.  He  had,  for 
the  sake  of  the  Gospel,  abandoned  his  country  and  the 
comforts  of  civilization,  to  erect  (in  the  language  of  Scrip 
ture  which  he  loved  to  use)  his  Ebenezer  in  the  wilder 
ness.  He  wanted  to  be  let  alone.  He  invited  not  Papists 
or  English  Churchmen,  or  any  who  differed  in  opinion 
from  him,  to  throw  in  their  lots  with  his.  They  would 
only  be  obstacles  in  his  way,  jarring-strings  in  his  heavenly 
antique-fashioned  harp.  Away  with  the  intruders  !  What 
right  had  they  to  molest  him  with  their  dissenting  presence  ? 
The  earth  was  wide  :  let  them  go  somewhere  else.  They 
would  find  more  congenial  associates  in  the  Virginia  colony. 
He  would  have  no  Achans  to  breed  dissension  in  his  camp. 
With  bold  heart  and  strong  hand  would  he  cast  them  out. 
His  was  the  empire  of  the  saints  ;  an  empire,  not  to  be 
exercised  with  feebleness  and  doubt,  but  with  vigor  and 
confidence. 

It  is  obvious  that  a  very  wide  difference  existed  between 
the  characters  of  the  two  colonies.  The  cavalier,  spark- 
ling  and  fiery  as  the  wines  he  quaffed,  the  defender  of  es 
tablished  authority  and  of  the  divine  right  of  kings,  was 
the  antithesis  of  the  abstemious  and  thoughtful  religionist 


INTRODUCTORY  CHAPTER.  19 

s 

and  reformer,  dissatisfied  with  the   present,  hopeful  of  a 
better  future,  and  not  forgetful  that  it  was  in  anger  God 

'  O  O 

gave  the  Israelites  a  king. 

Meanwhile  the  Roman  Catholics  had  not  been  idle. 
Their  devoted  missionaries,  solicitous  to  occupy  other  re 
gions  which  should  more  than  supply  the  deficiency  occa 
sioned  by  the  Piotestant  defection,  and  confident  of  the 
final  triumph  of  a  Church,  out  of  whose  pale  they  believed 
could  be  no  salvation,  had  scattered  themselves  over  the 
continent,  and  with  marvellous  energy  and  self-sacrifice, 
were  extending  their  influence  among  the  natives.  No 
boundaries  can  be  placed  to  the  visions  of  the  enthusiastic 
religionist.  His  strength  is  the  strength  of  God.  No 
wonder,  then,  that  the  Roman  Catholic  priest  should  cherish 
hopes  of  rescuing  the  entire  new  world  from  heresy,  which 
he  considered  worse  than  heathenism,  and  should  enlist  all 
his  energies  in  so  grand  a  cause.  It  is  almost  certain  that 
extensive  plans  were  formed  for  the  accomplishment  of 
this  object. 

Such  were  the  elements  which  the  seething  caldron  of 
the  old  world  threw  out  upon  the  new.  A  part  only  of 
the  materials  furnished  by  these  elements  have  I  used  in 
framing  this  tale.  It  is  an-  attempt  to  elucidate  the  man 
ners  and  credence  of  quite  an  early  period,  and  to  explain 
with  the  license  accorded  to  a  romancer,  some  passages  in 
American  history. 

Thus  much   have   I  thought  proper  to  premise.     It  is 


20  INTRODUCTORY  CHAPTER. 

impossible  to  judge  correctly  of  the  men  of  any  age,  with 
out  taking  into  consideration  the  circumstances  in  which 
they  were  placed,  and  the  opinions  that  prevailed  in  their 
time.  To  apply  the  standard  of  this  year  of  grace,  1856, 
to  the  religious  enlightenment  of  more  than  two  hundred 
years  ago,  would  be  like  measuring  one  of  Gulliver's  Lilli 
putians  by  Gulliver  himself.  I  trust  that  the  world  has 
since  improved,  and  that  of  whatever  passing  follies  we 
may  be  guilty,  we  shall  never  retrograde  to  the  old  narrow 
views  of  truth.  If  mankind  are  capable  of  being  taught 
any  lesson,  surely  this  is  one — that  persecution  or  dislike 
for  opinion  sake  is  a  folly  and  an  evil,  and  that  we  best 
perform  the  will  of  Him  to  whom  we  are  commanded  to 
be  like,  not  by  contracting  our  affections  into  the  narrow 
sphere  of  those  whose  opinions  harmonize  with  ours,  but 
by  diffusing  our  love  over  His  creation  who  pronounced  it 
all  "  very  good." 


THE 


KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE, 


CHAPTER   I. 


Come  on,  Sir  !  now  you  set  your  foot  on  shore, 
In  novo  orbe.  * 

BEN  JONSON'S  Alchemist. 


OUR  tale  begins  within  a  few  years  after  the  end  of  the  firs; 
quarter  of  the  Tith  century,  at  Boston,  in  Massachusetts,  then 
in  the  infancy  of  its  settlement. 

On  an  evening  in  the  month  of  May,  were  assembled  some 
seven  or  eight  men  around  a  table,  in  a  long,  low  room,  the  sides 
only  of  which  were  plastered,  the  rough  beams  and  joists  over 
head  being  exposed  to  view ;  the  windows  were  small,  and  the 
floor  without  a  carpet ;  and  the  furniture  consisted  of  the  table, 
over  which  was  spread  a  black  cloth,  whereupon  stood  several 
lighted  candles  in  brass  candlesticks,  of  a  dozen  chairs,  covered 
with  russet-colored  leather,  and  of  some  wooden  benches,  ranged 
against  the  walls,  and  which  were  occupied  by  various  persons. 
At  one  end  of  the  apartment  the  floor  was  raised  a  few  inches, 
and  the  chair  standing  on  this  elevation  differed  from  the  others 
in  having  arms  at  the  sides,  and  in  being  of  ampler  proportions, 


22  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

as  if  by  its  appearance  to  vindicate  a  claim  to  superior  position. 
But  unpretending  as  was  the  room,  it  was  a  place  of  no  little 
importance,  being  no  less  than  the  Court  Hall  and  Council 
Chamber  of  the  "  Governor  and  Company  of  the  Massachusetts 
Bay,  in  New  England."  At  the  moment  of  which  we  are 
speaking,  it  was  appropriated  to  a  meeting  of  the  Court  of 
Assistants  of  the  Colony. 

The  person  occupying  the  arm-chair,  on  the  platform,  was  a 
man  of  not  unpleasing  appearance,  somewhat  less  than  fifty  years 
of  age,  and  clresse'l  with  considerable  precision  in  the  style  pre 
vailing  among  gentlemen  of  distinction  at  that  day.  His  face 
was  rather  long,  and  surmounted  by  a  high  and  well  developed 
forehead,  from  the  top  of  which,  dark,  parted  hair  fell  in  curls 
down  the  temples  over  a  white  ruff,  fringed  with  costly  lace,  that 
encircled  his  neck.  His  eyes  were  blue ;  his  eye-brows  highly 
arched ;  his  nose  large ;  beard  covered  the  upper  lip  and  chin ; 
and  so  far  as  an  opinion  could  be  formed,  from  his  sitting  pos 
ture,  he  was  tall  and  well-made.  The  expression  of  his  counte 
nance  was  gentle,  and  there  was  an  air  of  introspection  and 
abstraction  about  it  as  if  he  were  much  in  the  habit  of  com 
muning  with  his  own  thoughts.  The  upper  part  of  his  person, 
which  only  was  visible,  the  rest  being  hid  by  the  table  and  de 
pending  cloth,  was  clothed  in  a  black  coat  or  doublet,  without 
ornament  or  even  the  appearance  of  a  button,  and  at  his  side 
he  wore  a  rapier,  evidently  more  as  a  badge  of  his  rank  than  for 
use. 

Seated  at  his  right  hand,  and  below  the  platform,  was  a  man 
a  dozen  years  at  least  his  elder,  whose  stout  look  and  fiery 
glances  indicated  that  if  time  had  grizzled  his  thick  and  close 
cut  hair,  it  had  not  quenched  the  heat  of  his  spirit.  Like  the 
gentleman  first  described,  he  was  dressed  in  sad-colored  garments, 
differing  but  little  from 'them,  except  that  instead  of  a  ruff,  he 
wore  a  plain  white  band,  falling  upon  his  breast,  cut  somewhat 


THE    KNIGHT   OF    Tllti    GOLDEN    MELICE.  23 

like  those  worn  by  clergymen  at  the  present  day,  but  longer,  and 
passing  round  the  neck  and  covering  the  collar  of  the  coat. 
Although  the  oldest  of  the  company,  he  seemed  to  have  himself 
the  least  under  control,  continually  moving  in  his  chair,  drawing 
forward  arid  pushing  away  the  sheets  of  paper  that  Jay  before 
him,  and  now  and  then  darting  an  impatient  glance  at  the  per 
son  in  the  arm-chair,  from  whom  it  would  wander  over  his  com 
panions,  and  then  fasten  on  the  door. 

The  third  and  last  gentleman  whom  we  think  proper  to  des 
cribe,  was  a  man  of  about  the  age  of  the  first,  but  utterly  unlike 
him.  His  head  was  covered  with  a  black  skull  cap,  (probably 
to  protect  his  baldness,)  beneath  which,  rose  ears  more  prominent 
than  ornamental,  being  very  little  relieved  by  the  hair,  which 
was  cropped  short.  His  complexion  was  florid,  and  the  parts  of 
the  face,  about  the  chin  and  jaws,  full  and  heavy,  giving  an 
appearance  of  great  roundness  to  the  countenance.  His  features 
were  regular,  the  mouth  small  and  compressed,  and  on  the  upper 
lip  he  wore  a  moustache,  parted  in  the  centre,  and  brushed  out 
horizontally,  balanced  by  a  tuft  on  the  chin,  four  or  five  inches 
long.  An  adventurous  spirit  gazed  out  of  his  clear  steady  eyes, 
and  altogether  he  looked  like  a  man  of  determined  temper,  and 
one  who,  having  once  formed  a  resolution,  would  find  it  difficult 
to  relinquish  it.  Around  his  neck  he  also  had  a  broad  band, 
divided  in  the  middle,  and  falling  half  way  down  his  breast. 
The  remainder  of  the  persons  around  the  table  bore  the  same 
general  resemblance  to  these  three,  in  dress,  that  one  gentleman 
ordinarily  does  to  another,  and  all  were  engaged  in  conversation. 

Presently  the  gentleman  in  the  arm-chair,  who  was  evidently 
the  President,  took  up  a  small  bell  that  was  placed  before  him, 
and  sounding  it,  the  summons  was  replied  to  by  the  entrance  of 
a  man  from  a  side-door.  He  was  the  servitor  or  beadle  of  the 
Court,  and  moving  to  the  end  of  the  table  opposite  the  President, 
he  stood  facing  him  and  waiting  his  commands. 


24  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

"  Bring  in  the  prisoner,"  said  the  President,  in  a  low  tone,  but 
so  distinct  that  it  was  heard  all  over  the  room. 

The  beadle  noiselessly  glided  out,  and  in  a  few  moments  re 
turned,  leading  a  man,  whose  wrists  were  fastened  with  gyves, 
whom  he  conducted  to  the  end  of  the  table  he  had  just  left,  and 
placed  so  as  to  confront  the  President. 

"  Take  off  the  irons,"  said  the  same,  low.  musical  voice. 

The  man,  thus  unpleasantly  introduced,  was  in  the  prime  of 
life,  certainly  not  more  than  thirty-five  or  six  years  of  age,  and 
from  his  bold  and  erect  carriage,  seemed  (as  was  the  fact)  to  have 
been  bred  a  soldier.  Upon  the  order  to  take  off  the  shackles 
being  complied  with,  he  cast  a  look  of  acknowledgment  toward 
the  speaker. 

"  Master  Nowell,"  said  the  President,  "  read  the  accusation." 

The  person  addressed,  who  was  the  Clerk  or  Secretary,  rose 
hereupon  from  his  seat  near  the  centre  of  the  table,  and  read 
"  the  information,"  which  it  is  unnecessary  to  give  at  length, 
charging  the  prisoner  with  using  most  foul,  scandalous,  indecent, 
defamatory,  and  unseemly  invectives,  reproaches,  and  passionate 
speeches,  toward  and  against  the  worshipful  magistrates  and 
godly  ministers  of  the  colony,  thereby  contriving  and  design 
ing  to  bring  into  contempt,  all  law,  order,  religion,  and  good 
government,  &c.,  and  to  subvert  the  authority  of  the  magistrates 
and  undermine  the  wholesome  influence  of  the  godly  ministers, 
&c.,  to  the  disgrace  and  ruin  of  the  colony  and  scandal  of  true 
religion,  &c. 

When  the  paper  had  been  read,  the  President  demanded — 
"  Are  you  guilty  or  not  ?" 

"  I  am  as  innocent  as  the  worshipful  Governor  himself,  and 
whoever  wrote  those  lies,  is  a  villain  and  a  foresworn  knave," 
replied  the  prisoner. 

"  Enter  that  the  prisoner  says  he  is  not  guilty,"  said  the  Presi 
dent,  addressing  the  Secretary ;  "  and  do  thou,  Philip  Joy,  re- 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELIOB.       25 

member  where  thou  art,  and  express  thyself  in  a  manner  more 
becoming  this  presence." 

"  It  is  hard  to  be  tied  up  like  a  mad  dog  and  not  get  angry," 
replied  the  accused. 

"  Sirrah  !"  cried  the  gentleman,  whose  appearance  was  des 
cribed  next  after  the  President,  "  dost  thou  bring  a  contumacious 
spirit  here  to  bandy  words  with  the  right  worshipful  Governor  ? 
Silence,  and  answer  peremptorily  to  the  questions  of  thy 
betters." 

"  Nay,  worthy  Deputy  Governor  Dudley,  the  poor  man  is,  I 
doubt  not,  already  sensible  of  his  error,  and  sinned  more  out  of 
ignorance  than  design,"  observed  the  President. 

"  The  honored  Governor,"  spoke  an  assistant  from  near  the 
bottom  of  the  table,  "  is,  I  fear,  disposed  to  be  too  lenient  in  res 
pect  of  these  foul-mouthed  carrion." 

"  Our  law  condemns  no  man  unheard,  nor  will  I  be  more  stern," 
answered  the  mild  Governor  Winthrop,  (for  it  was  he).  "  It 
seems  to  me  to  be  the  part  of  a  judge  to  allow  no  harsh  suspi 
cions  to  enter  his  mind,  lest  they  throw  baleful  shadows  over  his 
decisions.  Philip  Joy,"  he  added,  turning  to  the  prisoner,  "  thou 
hast  declared  thyself  innocent ;  wilt  thou  be  tried  by  a  jury,  or 
art  content  to  trust  thy  cause  to  the  judgment  of  the  honorable 
Court  of  Assistants  f ' 

"  I  care  not  who  tries  me,"  replied  Joy.  "  I  am  a  true  man  ; 
and,  though  I  don't  belong  to  the  congregation,  am  as  honest  as 
a  great  many  who  do,  and  he  is  a  horrid  villain,  who — " 

"  Enough,"  interrupted  the  Governor,  "  a  quick  tongue  often 
prejudices,  while  a  slow  one  seldom  doth.  Do  I  understand  that 
it  is  thy  desire  to  be  tried  by  the  Assistants  V 

"  It  is  not  my  desire  to  be  tried  by  any  one,"  said  Joy  ;  "but, 
sith  I  am  to  be  put  on  my  deliverance,  I  think  that  I  shall  stand 
a  better  chance  in  the  hands  of  honorable  gentlemen,  some  of 
whom  have  been  soldiers,  than  in  the  dirty  paws  of  tinkers,  and 
cobblers,  and  mere  mechanicals." 


26  THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE. 

No  smile  mantled  over  the  faces  of  his  grave  judges,  but  it  was 
obvious,  from  the  twinkling  of  eyes  and  glances  shot  by  one  to 
another,  that  the  speech  of  Joy  had  done  him  no  harm  with  those 
who,  even  thus  early,  began  to  feel  annoyed  at  the  approach  of 
the  clouted  shoe. 

"  Art  them  prepared  for  thy  trial  f '   inquired  the  President. 

"  At  any  moment,  and  the  sooner  the  better,  your  worship. 
I  had  rather  mount  guard,  for  a  week,  in  steel  helmet  and  corse 
let,  with  breast,  back,  culet,  gorget,  tasses,  sword,  musket  and 
bandoliers,  in  the  hottest  sun  that  ever  roasted  a  blackamoor,  or 
stand  up  to  my  knees,  six  months,  in  snow,  without  my  mandil- 
ion,  than  lie  a  day  longer  in  that  ace —  I  mean  that  kennel  of  a 
lock-up." 

"  It,  mesecms,  thou  art  in  a  hurry  to  have  justice  done  thee, 
good  fellow,"  said,  with  a  grim  smile,  the  gentleman  who  was  the 
third  one  described,  stroking,  with  his  embroidered  glove,  the 
tuft  of  hair  that  hung  below  his  chin. 

"  You  are  a  soldier,  Captain  Endicott,  and  can  look  a  man 
straight  in  the  eyes,"  said  Joy ;  "  and,  though  people  give  you 
credit  for  a  hot  temper,  I  will  trust  you." 

Endicott  elevated  his  eye-brows  at  this  ambiguous  compliment, 
and  for  a  moment  seemed  at  a  loss  how  to  take  it,  especially  as 
he  remarked  a  peculiar  expression  on  the  faces  of  his  colleagues. 

"  Being  a  soldier  thyself,"  he  replied,  fastening  his  eyes  sternly 
on  the  face  of  the  prisoner,  "  thou  art  bound  to  know  that  it 
becomes  not  one  in  the  ranks  to  prattle." 

Joy  made  no  answer,  but  returned  a  cool  and  unabashed  look 
to  the  gaze  of  the  other. 

"•  If  the  witnesses  have  been  called,  let  them  appear,"  said  the 
President. 

Two  men,  of  a  rather  mean  appearance,  now  stepped  forward ; 
an  oath  by  the  uplifted  hand  was  administered,  and  one  com 
menced  his  testimony. 

The  substance  of  his  story  was,  that  Joy,  on  a  certain  occa- 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  27 

sion,  and,  at  a  certain  place,  in  his  presence  and  hearing,  had 
declared,  with  a  profane  exclamation,  that  there  were  men  in  the 
colony,  wiser,  and  more  learned,  than  either  the  magistrates  or 
ministers  ;  and  that,  between  them  both,  what  with  their  long 
prayers  and  intermeddling  in  every  body's  affairs,  they  were  like 
to  ruin  the  plantation. 

Upon  the  conclusion  of  the  testimony,  the  witness  was  sharply 
cross-questioned  by  Governor  Winthrop,  and  some  inquires  were 
made  by  various  Assistants,  but  nothing  further  was  elicited.  As 
for  Joy,  he  disdained  to  ask  a  question,  declaring  that  his  accuser, 
Timpson,  had  already  been  in  the  stocks  for  leasing  ;  and,  besides, 
had  been  cudgelled  by  himself  for  stealing. 

Hezckiah  Timpson,  a  villainous,  lean,  crop-haired  fellow,  with 
a  hang-dog  look,  and  sanctimonious  air,  upon  hearing  himself 
charged  with  delinquencies,  which  were  notorious  to  the  whole 
Court,  raised  to  heaven  his  eyes,  which,  until  now,  he  had  kept 
fastened  on  the  floor,  and,  sighing  deeply,  exclaimed  : 

"  I  do  confess  my  iniquities  and  my  sins  are  ever  before  me. 
Verily,  was  I  then  given  over  to  Satan  to  be  buffeted  but  by  free- 
grace  have  I  been  snatched,  as  a  brand  from  the  burning,  even 
as  I  yet  hope  to  see  thee,  Philip." 

"  Canting  rogue.  [  want  none  of  thy  hopes,  good  or  bad," 
said  Joy. 

"  Cease  thy  reviling,"  cried  Dudley,  starting  from  his  seat. 
"What !  are  we  to  sit  here  to  listen  to  malapert  railings  against 
men  of  godly  life  and  conversation  ?"  he  added,  addressing  him 
self  to  Winthrop.  But  before  the  GoveYnor  could  reply,  one  of 
the  Assistants  interposed. 

"  Let  the  poor  man  unbosom  himself  freely,"  he  said,  "  that 
the  whole  truth  may  come  to  light." 

"  Our  worshipful  brother  Spikeman,"  answered  the  Deputy 
Governor,  with  a  sneer,  (which  he  did  not  attempt  to  suppress,) 
"  \vas  not  always  ready  to  allow  such  free-speech,  as  witness  the 


28  THE   KNIGHT   OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

case  of  Martin  Wrexham,  banished  for  speaking  to  his  dispar 
agement." 

"  I  trust  that  I  shall  be  able  to  give  the  worshipful  Deputy 
Governor  such  reasons  for  my  conduct,  as  will  satisfy  him,"  said 
Spikeman. 

Dudley  threw  himself  back  into  his  chair,  as  if  not  half  sat's- 
fied  ;  and  Winthrop,  who  had  calmly  listened  to  the  colloquy, 
took  advantage  of  the  pause  that  ensued,  to  direct  the  other 
witness  to  testify, 

From  the  examination,  it  appeared  that  he  had  been  present 
at  the  conversation  referred  to  .by  Timpson,  that,  indeed,  it  was 
between  Joy  and  himself,  and  that  the  former  had  not  been 
aware  of  the  presence  of  the  informer,  until  on  turning  round,  when 
Timpson  was  standing  at  his  elbow.  He  recollected  nothing  said 
by  Joy  about  the  ministers,  except  that  he  had,  any  day,  rather 
listen  to  one  of  Corporal  Joly's  songs,  than  Mr.  Cotton's  long  ser 
mons  ;  nor  respecting  the  magistrates,  but  that  there  were  better 
judges  in  England. 

The  testimony  being  concluded,  the  prisoner  was  asked  what 
he  had  to  say  for  himself,  to  which  he  replied  : 

"  Only  that  Hezekiah  Timpson  was  an  eves-dropping,  lying 
villain,  and  that  the  other  witness  had  told  the  truth.  He  meant 
no  harm  by  anything  he  had  said." 

"  Dost  think  it  advisable  to  retract  anything  ?"  inquired 
Spikeman. 

"  I  know  not  why  I  should  deny  the  truth,"   answered  Joy. 

"  Remand  the  prisoner,  and  clear  the  court-room,"  cried  the 
President ;  and  Joy  was  accordingly  led  out,  followed  by  the 
spectators. 

As  soon  as  the  members  of  the  Court  were  left  to  themselves, 
Winthrop  began  to  collect  the  opinions  of  the  Assistants,  com 
mencing  with  the  youngest,  who  were  placed  most  remote  from 
him.  At  first,  a  considerable  diversity  of  sentiment  prevailed, 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  ME  LICE.  29 

several  seeming  disposed  to  discredit  Timpson,  and  to  acquit  Joy. 
They  pronounced  their  opinions  shortly  and  pithily,  giving  their 
reasons  in  a  few  words,  until  it  came  to  Spikeman's  turn,  who 
spoke  more  at  length. 

"  The  vice,"  he  said,  "  of  backbiting  godly  ministers,  and  ma 
ligning  magistrates,  had  risen,  in  consequence  of  the  mistaken 
leniency  of  the  Court,  to  an  alarming  height,  so  as  to  threaten 
the  very  foundations  of  their  government.  There  was  not  a 
Satan-instigated  railing  Rabsheka,  who  did  not  now  have  his 
daily  fling  at  the  servants  of  the  Lord,  engaged  in  much  tribula 
tion  in  planting  his  vineyard,  and  there  were  many  saints  who 
were  already  calling  out,  O  Lord,, how  long  !  They  had  them 
selves  just  been  witnesses  of  the  audacity,  wherewith,  in  the  very 
presence  of  the  right  worshipful  Governor,  and  the  worshipful 
Assistants,  the  prisoner  had  assumed  to  sit  in  judgment  upon  a 
member  of  the  congregation,  and  to  foul  him  with  abuse.  Never 
had  he  dared  to  exhibit  such  topping  insolence,  had  he  not  sup 
posed  himself  supported  by  a  mutinous  spirit  from  without.  It  was 
a  dangerous  spirit  which,  if  inflamed  by  indulgence,  would  become 
a  deadly  boil  to  poison  the  whole  body  politic.  Prick  therefore 
the  imposthume  at  once,  and,  like  wise  surgeons,  let  out  the 
offensive  matter.  He  was  not  surprised  at  the  indignation  of  the 
worthy  Deputy.  It  was  a  zeal  unto  godliness,  and  devoutly  did 
he  wish,  that  himself,  and  jJI,  were  more  inspired  with  it.  When 
he  had  asked  that  the  prisoner  might  be  permitted  to  speak  freely, 
it  was  that  every  Assistant  might  be  convinced  by  his  own  ears 
of  the  boldness  wherewith  rebellion  to  constituted  authority,  im 
pudently  bursting  from  the  bottomless  pit,  ventured  to  obtrude 
into  a  court  of  justice,  and  to  boast  of  its  misdeeds.  Was  a  child 
of  the  covenant  of  grace,  and  our  brother  in  Christ,  to  be  re 
proached  with  the  sins  which  he  had  committed  when  in  the  gall 
of  bitterness  and  bonds  of  iniquity,  and  which  had  been  washed 
out  by  the  blood  of  the  New-Testament  ?  Nay,  then,  give  a 


30       THE  KNIGHr  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

universal  license  to  every  lewd  fellow,  to  rake  up  the  sins  of  your 
youth,  and  let  him  send  to  England — that  England  which  spewed 
us  out  ol  her  mouth,  as  if  we  were  not  the  children  of  her  bowels 
— to  obtain  the  proofs.  Had  there  been  no  word  of  evidence,  the 
bare  conduct  of  the  prisoner  before  them  was  enough  to  satisfy 
them  of  his  dangerous  character,  and  he  should  feel  his  conscience 
accusing  him  of  failure  in  his  obligations  to  the  Church  and  the 
Colony,  were  he  not  to  advise  exemplary  punishment,  whereof 
banishment  would  be  a  necessary  but  the  slightest  part. 

The  speech  of  Spikeman  was  evidently  acceptable  to  a  ma 
jority  of  the  Assistants.  It  appealed  to  the  fanaticism  of  some, 
and  to  the  fears  of  others  ;  but  there  were  some  on  whom  it 
produced  no  such  effect.  Captain  Endicott,  fierce  zealot  as  he 
was,  found  in  it  something  disagreeable.  As  his  manner  was, 
he  stroked  with  his  hand  the  long  tuft  on  his  chin,  before  he 
commenced  speaking : 

"  There  are  things,"  he  said,  "  in  the  speech  of  the  worship 
ful  brother  whereof  I  approve,  and  others,  again,  whereunto  I 
may  not  give  my  assent.  Though  it  may  savor  of  worldly  pride, 
and  be  proof  of  the  old  Adam  lingering  in  me,  I  will  say,  that 
however  guilty  in  the  sight  of  God,  before  whom  I  acknowledge 
myself  the  chief  of  sinners,  I  challenge  before  man  an  examina 
tion  of  my  life,  and  fear  no  evil  report  from  England  or  else 
where.  But  for  this  self-boasting,  I  crave  the  pardon  and 
prayers  of  my  brethren.  Touching  the  prisoner,  which  is  the 
matter  in  hand,  I  find  him  somewhat  bold,  and  not  altogether  in 
other  respects  what  I  desire,  but  yet  not  worthy  of  severe  punish 
ment,  or  likely  to  be  a  dangerous  person  in  the  Commonwealth. 
Where  need  requires,  I  trust,  with  preventing  grace,  never  to 
be  deficient  in  prompt  and  energetic  action,  but  no  necessity 
therefor  hath,  in  my  judgment,  at  present  arisen.  For,  as  for 
this  young  man,  ye  are  to  recollect  that  he  is  a  soldier,  and  that 
a  stout  one,  and  may  yet  do  the  Commonwealth  service  in  her 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.  31 

defence,  whereunto  I  doubt  not  his  willingness,  and  that  his  free 
speech  doth  proceed  rather  from  the  license  of  camps  than  from 
malignity  of  temper.  Moreover,  I  find  not  the  rule  of  Scripture 
whereby  we  are  bound  that  by  the  mouth  of  two  or  three  wit 
nesses  every  word  shall  be  established  altogether  complied  with, 
meaning  not,  thereby,  to  impugn  the  statement  of  our  brother  of 
the  congregation,  worthy  good  man  Timpson,  but  only  that  his 
words  are  not  confirmed  as  our  law  requires." 

Thus  spoke  Endicott,  who  was  afterwards  so  notorious  for 
his  severities  against  dissidents ;  but  these  sentiments  found  no 
echo  in  the  mind  of  the"  Deputy  Governor. 

"  I  thank  God,"  he  said,  "  that  however  gross  and  innumera 
ble  my  errors  and  backslidings,  I  am  no  libertine."  (Here  Endi 
cott' s  eyes  flashed,  but  he  contented  himself  with  stroking,  in  a 
musing  manner,  the  long  tuft  of  hair  on  his  chin.)  "  The 
evil  we  are  called  upon  by  the  united  voice/of  the  suffering  saints 
in  this  wilderness  to  suppress,"  continued  Dudley,  "  demands,  I 
trow,  sharper  practice  than  has  hitherto  been  applied,  and  I  do 
admire  at  the  milk-and-water  temper  of  the  worthy  Assistant  at 
this  present.  Not  thus  is  he  wont  to  speak,  but  in  the  common 
is  zealous  even  unto  slaying.  What  incantation  or  witch  of 
Endor  hath  blinded  him,  I  know  not." 

The  blood  mounted  into  the  face  of  Endicott,  for  he,  as  well 
as  the  others  present,  understood  the  remark  to  refer  to  the  young 
arid  gentle  wife  of  the  ex-Governor  of  Salem,  and  who  was  sup 
posed  to  exert  a  great  influence  in  soothing  the  fierceness  of  his 
disposition,  (alas,  if  it  were  so,  how  short  a  time  that  influence 
lasted !)  and  many  were  the  smiles  that  circled  the  table,  but 
Winthrop,  apprehensive  of  a  storm,  interposed. 

"  My  worthy  friend,"  he  said,  "  can  surely  intend  no  disrespect 
toward  one  of  the  stoutest  champions  of  our  Israel.  Doubtless 
he  will  be  able  so  to  explain  his  words,  as  to  make  their  meaning 
innocent." 


32  THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELIGE. 

*c  I  complain  not,"  burst  forth  Endicott.  "  If  it  were  lawful 
to  try  conclusions  in  the  manner  of  the  Gentiles,  and  he  a  fit  man 
for  me  to  deal  with,  his  lips  should  never  repeat  such  vitupera 
tions;"  and  as  he  concluded,  he  threw  one  of  his  embroidered 
gloves  violently  on  the  table  before  Dudley,  who  sat  opposite. 
te;  "  Peace,  gentlemen,"  cried  Winthrop,  rising  with  dignity,  and 
looking  alternately  at  one  and  the  other.  "  Forget  not  that  ye 
are  brethren,  and  that  upon  your  harmony  depends  the  pros 
perity  of  our  Zion.  If  ye  who  are  of  the  household  of  faith 
permit  idle  bickerings  to  divide  your  hearts,  how  can  ye  expect 
the  blessing  of  Heaven  on  your  labors  ?  If  the  cement  to  hold 
together  the  stones  of  the  temple  be  untempered  mortar,  must 
not  the  fabric  fall,  and  bury  the  worshippers  in  its  ruins  ?  If 
you  love  me,  Captain  Endicott,  my  brave  and  generous,  but 
hasty  friend,  take  up  your  glove ;  if  you  have  respect  for  the 
high  station  you  so  worthily  fill,  noble  Dudley,  extend  your  hand 
in  token  of  amity,  and  assure  our  brother  that  no  offence  was 


<-.-  The  time  occupied  by  the  governor  had  afforded  opportunity 
for  the  passions  of  the  two  gentlemen  to  cool,  and  for  them  to 
become  sensible  of  the  unbecoming  parts  they  were  playing. 
As  if  they  had  at  the  same  instant  arrived  at  a  like  conclusion, 
Endicott  reached  forward  to  pick  up  his  gauntlet,  while  Dudley 
stretched  out  his  open  palm.  It  was  grasped  by  the  other,  and 
the  two  men  wrung  each  other's  hand  as  if  whatever  might  be 
their  private  quarrels,  they  were  resolved  to  stand  by  one  another 
against  the  rest  of  the  world. 

"  I  crave  forgiveness,"  said  Dudley,  at  the  same  time  resuming 
his  seat  and  speech,  "of  the  honorable  Assistants  in  general, 
and  of  my  excellent  brother  Endicott  in  particular,  and  beseech 
them  to  ascribe  the  vehemency  of  my  speech  to  no  want  of  re 
spect  for  them,  but  to.  my  zeal  in  the  common  service,  and  to  a 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.       33 

natural  impetuosity.  I  solemnly  protest  that  my  observation 
pointed  at  nothing  offensive,  and  that  come  whence  it  might,  I 
would  resent  a  wrong  to  my  honored  brother  as  quickly  as  to 
myself.  Yet  I  will  say,  that  I  marvel  that  one  so  familiar  with 
the  nature  of  wounds  as  my  honorable  and  dear  friend,  the 
worthy  founder  of  our  infant  commonwealth,  (and  this  is  an 
ancient  and  increasing  evil,)  should  not  know  that  old  wounds 
require  rather  vinegar  than  oil,  the  cautery  instead  of  unguents. 
As  a  member  of  the  persecuted  Church,  I  will  not  allow  the  de 
clarations  of  a  brother  of  that  holy  and  mystical  body  to  be 
•overborne  and  set  at  naught  by  an  ill  liver  like  this  Philip  Joy. 
I  say  that  men  have  become  too  free  in  uttering  their  licentious 
imaginations  abo^it  those  who  are  placed  by  Grod's  Providence 
above  them  for  their  soul's  good  and  bodies'  health,  and  that  an 
example  should  be  made  to  repress  the  gossip  of  light  tongues 
and  evil  thinkers.  In  punishing  this  Joy,  (who  might  more 
properly  be  called  mourning,)  we  exalt  the  honor  of  the  con 
gregation,  one  of  whose  sons,  even  in  your  presence,  and  with 
intent  to  dishonor  you,  he  has  abused  with  perverse  epithets, 
while  at  the  same  time  we  strike  a,  wholesome  terror  into  others 
in  like  case  to  offend." 

He  ceased,  and  looked  around  as  if  to  gather  the  suffrages  of 
his  associates,  but  since  the  little  interruption  to  their  harmony, 
the  wary  Assistants  were  too  politic,  by  word  or  sign,  to  betray 
a  bias,  so  that  he  beheld  only  downcast  eyes,  and  countenances 
purposely  vacant,  in  order  to  conceal  the  thoughts  of  their 
owners. 

It  was  now  the  turn  of  the  Governor  to  express  his  opinion, 
and  as  he  opened  his  lips,  all  eyes  were  fastened  on  him.  His 
manner  was  grave,  yet  soft  and  persuasive,  and  a  desire  was 
manifest  to  pursue  a  course  which  should  offend  none,  but  recon 
cile  differences  by  yielding  something  to  all. 

"  TumuUuosa  libertas"  (he  said,  commencing  his  remarks  with 

2 


84:  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

a  Latin  quotation,)  "  tranquilitati  probrosce  antcponenda  e<tf,  and  in 
the  lively  observations  we  have  heard,  I  mark  not  the  signs  of 
dissension,  but  of  free  thought,  having  in  view  the  honor  of  God 
and  the  welfare  of  his  little  flock  scattered  abroad  in  a  strange 
land.  But  the  good  shepherd  will  yet  gather  the  dispersed  into 
his  arms,  and  gently  lead  them  through  green  pastures  and  by 
still  waters.  Our  Israel  owes  you  thanks,  brethren,  for  the 
vigilance  wherewith  ye  watch  the  walls  of  Jerusalem,  and  are 
quick  to  spy  the  lurking  wolf  and  ravening  bear.  If  the  watch 
men  sleep,  what  shall  become  of  the  city  ?  But  her  strong 
towers  of  defence  and  bulwarks  are  ye,  emulous  only  to  show 
your  love. 

"  It  hath  been  said — to  come  more  immediately  to  the  matter 
in  hand — that  the  vice  of  evil  speaking  of  dignities  had  greatly 
increased,  and  needed  to  be  repressed.  It  is  so,  and  cannot  be 
denied;  and  I  would  thereupon  note  a  caution  to  my  brethren, 
and  that  is,  the  necessity  of  rather  discouraging  that  democratical 
spirit  which  is  threatening  to  sweep  away  all  distinctions,  and  to 
strip  the  Assistants  themselves  of  necessary  power.  It  is  an 
insubordination,  whereof  foul  breaths,  licentious  imaginations, 
and  undisciplined  tongues,  tire  the  inciters  and  fomenters.  Now, 
if  one  can  legitimately  be  proved  guilty  of  the  offence,  I  would 
be  forward  as  well  for  the  salutary  discipline  of  the  offender  as 
highest  weal  of  the  state,  to  visit  him  with  a  due  measure  of 
punishment.  But  it  behooves  the  court  to  see  that  the  charge  is 
proved. 

"  In  the  present  case,  even  although  the  testimony  of  the  prin 
cipal  witness  were  thrown  out,  which,  howbeit,  cannot  be  done, 
he  standing  unimpeached  before  us,  yet  there  remains  sufficient 
from  the  testimony  of  the  second,  the  truth  of  which  is  not  denied 
by  the  prisoner,  to  convince  us  that  something  light  and  trivial  has 
been  uttered  reflecting,  upon  the  godly  Mr.  Cotton,  whose  edifying 
discourses  were  degraded  beneath|the  value  of  a  song.  _  This  is 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.       35 

in  a  manner  to  impeach  the  sanctity  of  religion,  by  making  light 
of  the  character  of  her  ministers.  As  for  what  the  prisoner  said 
touching  the  magistrates,  I  trust  that  it  is  true,  and  am  disposed 
to  connect  no  evil  intent  therewith.  My  judgment  is  to  pro 
nounce  him  guilty  of  using  indecorous  language  respecting  a 
minister  of  the  gospel,  and  to  condemn  him  therefor  in  a  light 
fine,  to  help  replenish  our  lean  treasury." 

"  Did  not  the  right  worshipful  Governor  remark  the  profane 
exclamation  of  the  prisoner  even  in  this  presence?"  inquired 
Spikeman. 

"  None,  Master  Spikeman,"  answered  Winthrop.  "  I  did  indeed 
observe  that  the  prisoner,  in  one  instance,  -commenced  what  I 
supposed  was  the  word  £  accursed,'  but  checked  himself  in  mid 
utterance  as  if  sensible  that  it  was  unmeet  to  be  spoken,  which 
rather  savors  of  respect  than  of  the  contrary." 

But  the  Assistant  shook  his  head.  "  I  have  seldom  seen,"  he 
said,  "  a  more  stiff-necked  and  perverse  offender,  and  one  more 
deserving  of  many  stripes." 

Hereupon  followed  a  discussion  of  some  length,  which  termi 
nated  favorably  to  the  opinions  of  the  Deputy  Governor  and 
of  the  Assistant  Spikeman,  and  it  was  finally  agreed  that  Joy 
should  be  found  guilty,  generally,  and  condemned  to  be  confined 
for  the  space  of  one  month,  in  irons,  to  a  fine  of  £5,  and  to 
banishment  from  the  colony.  This  result  was  not  attained 
without  strong  resistance  from  Winthrop,  who  strove  to  mitigate 
the  punishment  to  a  fine,  and  from  Endicott,  who  endeavored  to 
obtain  remission  of  the  banishment ;  but  in  vain — the  vehemence' 
of  Dudley,  and  the  insinuations  of  Spikeman,  overbore  all  op 
position. 

Upon  the  conclusion  being  arrived  at,  Joy  was  placed  again 
before  the  Governor,  who,  with  a  grieved  look,  pronounced  sen 
tence,  and  immediately  dismissed  the  Court. 


[[CHAPTER  II. 

A  gentle  knight  was  pricking  on  the  plainr. 

SPENCER. 

ON  the  morning  of  a  fine  day,  a  fortnight  after  the  occur 
rences  above  narrated,  a  horseman  was  riding  over  the  neck,  or 
narrow  strip  of  marshy  ground,  which  connects  the  peninsula  on 
which  Boston  is  situated  with  the  main  land.  The  rider  was  a 
tall,  handsome  man,  of  apparently  some  thirty-five  years  of  age, 
who  sat  on  his  steed  and  handled  the  reins  with  a  practiced 
grace,  as  if  the  saddle  and  himself  were  familiar  acquaintances. 
Under  a  broad-brimmed,  slouched  hat,  fell  curls  of  dark  hair, 
down  the  sides  of  an  oval  though  rather  thin  face,  embrowned 
by  exposure  to  the  weather.  The  nose  was  curved  like  the  beak 
of  an  eagle,  the  eyes  bright  and  wild  as  those  of  the  royal  bird, 
and  a  close  beard  curled  over  the  face,  including  the  upper  lip, 
the  bold  yet  sweet  expression  of  which  it  did  not  conceal. 

The  dress  of  the  cavalier  was  in  the  fashion  of  the  times, 
though  sobered  down,  either  for  the  purpose  of  attracting  less 
attention,  or  out  of  deference  to  the  customs  of  the  people  he 
was  among.  A  close  fitting  doublet  or  jerkin,  of  black  velvet, 
over  which  was  thrown  a  light  cloak  of  the  same  color,  but  of 
different  material,  and  a  falling  collar,  shaped  somewhat  like 
those  in  Vandyke's  portraits,  edged  with  a  narrow  peccadillo  or 
fringe  of  lace,  ornamented  the  upper  part  ol'  his  person ;  his 
hands  and  wrists  were  protected  by  long  gloves  or  gauntlets, 
reaching  half  way  up  to  the  elbow,  and  opening  wide  at  the  top  j 


38  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

russet-colored  boots  expanded  at  the  aperture  and  garnished 
with  spurs  reached  high  up  the  legs,  and  a  small  cut  and  thrust 
sword,  suspended  by  a  belt,  which  was  also  russet-colored,  hung 
at  his  side.  The  handle  of  the  sword  was  exquisitely  beautiful, 
worthy  of  being  the  work  of  Cellini  himself.  It  was  mostly  of 
massive  gold,  the  hilt  smooth  and  shining,  and  the  guard  em 
bossed  with  a  variety  of  elegant  devices.  But  the  part  which 
first  arrested  attention  and  attracted  the  most  admiration  was  the 
head,  whereupon  was  sculptured  a  gigantic  honey-bee,  with  wings 
expanded,  as  if  about  to  fly  from  its  perch ;  the  eyes  were  sparkling 
diamonds,  the  body  was  composed  of  different  colored  metals,  in 
imitation  of  life — and  the  whole  so  cunningly  wrought,  that  it 
seemed  a  living  bee  about  to  mount  into  the  air.  The  man  rode 
and  looked  as  if  not  anticipating,  and  incapable  of  fearing,  dan 
ger,  carelessly  glancing  round,  while  the  noble  animal  he  bestrode, 
as  if  he  had  caught  the  spirit  of  his  rider,  stepped  high  and  gal 
lantly  along.  But  in  truth  there  was  little  or  no  danger,  the 
white  settlers  being,  at  the  time,  at  peace  with  the  neighboring 
Indian  tribes. 

It  was  a  mere  bridle-path  the  horseman  was  following,  which 
wound  about  in  various  directions,  in  order  to  avoid  marshy 
ground,  or  trunks  of  trees,  or  other  obstacles,  and  appeared  to 
be  perfectly  familiar  to  the  horse,  who  trotted  on  without  any 
guidance  from  his  rider.  As  for  the  latter,  as  if  to  beguile  the 
tediousness  of  the  way,  he  would  pat  at  one  moment  the  neck  of 
his  dumb  companion,  and  address  a  few  words  to  him,  and  at 
the  next,  break  out  into  snatches  of  song.  Thus  he  proceeded 
until  he  emerged  from  the  woods,  and  an  open  space,  the  site  of 
the  future  city  of  Boston,  one"  the  cornfields  of  warlike  tribes, 
mysteriously  removed  by  pestilence,  in  order  as  to  the  excited 
imaginations  of  the  early  settle -sit  seemed,  to  make  room  for  the 
fugitives,  lay  spread  before  him. 
.  The  rider  stopped  his  horse,  and  for  some  moments  sat  in 


THE   KNIGHT   OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  39 

silence  gazing  on  the  scene.  From  the  eminence,  to  whose  top 
he  had  ridden,  declined  before  him  the  sloping  hills,  on  whose 
sides  open  cultivated  spaces  were  interspersed  \\ih  woo^s.  On 
the  waters'  dge,  for  the  most  part,  were  scattered  the  houses  of 
the  coloni-ts,  the  majority  of  them  rude  huts,  made  of  unhewn 
lo^rs,  with  here  and  there  a  frame  building,  or  a  brick  or  stone 
house  of  less  humble  pretensions,  while  beyond,  rolled  the  spark 
ling  waves  of  the  bay,  sprinkled  with  "  a  great  company  of 
islands,  whose  high  cliffs  shoulder  out  the  boisterous  seas,"  as  the 
old  chronicler  Wood  expresses  it,  and  rocking  a  few  small  ves 
sels  lying  at  anchor.  He  who  viewed  the  region  that  morning, 
must  have  had  a  brilliant  imagination  to  dream  of  the  magnifi 
cent  cities  destined  to  stud  those  coasts,  and  of  the  millions  to 
fill  those  extensive  forests  within  two  hundred  years.  Westward, 
indeed,  the  star  of  Empire  had  taken  its  way,  and  the  wise  men 
of  the  East  were  following  its  heavenly  guidance ;  but  who  knew 
it  then  ? 

At  last,  excited  by  the  view  and  his  thoughts,  the  rider  rose 
in  his  stirrups,  and  stretching  out  his  arms,  gave  expression,  in  a 
low  voice,  to  his  feelings — 

"  Well  may  these  men,  who  hope  to  found  a  new  dynasty,  be 
proud  of  the  lovely  land  which  they  have  chosen  for  a  refuge ! 
If  iron  resolution,  scorn  of  delights  and  contempt  of  death  could 
do  it,  they  would  accomplish  the  emprise — mais  Vhomme  propose 
et  Dieu  dispose.  Without  the  directing  mind  and  sustaining  arm 
of  the  source  of  all  wisdom  and  power,  in  vain  is  the  labor  of 
man.  Ruin  and  disgrace  shall  overwhelm  all  undertakings  not 
founded  on  the  Rock  of  Ages.  With  what  great  events  teems 
the  bosom  of  futurity  ?  O,  that  my  eyes  could  pierce  the  misty 
distance ;  that  my  dim  presaging  soul  could  behold  the  stately 
advance  of  the  corning  centuries,  whose  sounding  feet  I  fancy 
that  I  can  hear  !  Bear  they  in  their  hands  weal  or  woe  to 
humanity.?  Hath  the  creative  energy  set  a  limit,  beyond  which 


40       THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

the  tide  of  human  accomplishment,  like  the  hidden  power  in 
yonder  heaving  ocean,  may  not  rise;  but,  having  reached  its  des 
tined  apex,  must,  with  hoarse  murmurs,  recoil  back  upon  itself  in 
disordered  fragments  *? — or  in  these  later  times,  when  men  were  ripe 
for  the  blessing,  revealed  to  the  world  these  virgin  regions,  sepa 
rated  from  the  vices  of  Europe  and  of  the  East  by  a  mighty  sea, 
here  to  recommence  that  experiment  which  hath  partially  failed 
elsewhere,  and  imparted  sufficient  measure  of  His  spirit  to  chosen 
instruments  to  work  out  the  problem  of  human  happiness,  and  to 
conduct  mankind  to  heights  of  felicity,  beginning  here  and  never 
ending? — the  bare  contemplation  whereof  causes  my  flesh  to  quiver 
with  delight."^ 

As  he  uttered  these  words,  forgetful  of  his  situation,  he  stuck 
the  spurs  into  his  horse's  flanks,  and  the  astonished  animal 
started  with  a  bound.  It  was  then  the  consummate  address 
wherewith  the  stranger  sat,  his  horse  specially  exhibited  itself. 
As  if  the  feeling  of  the  startled  steed  were  instantly  communi 
cated  to  himself,  and  one  spirit  animated  both,  his  body  bent 
gently  forward  in  the  saddle,  catching  at  once  the  motion,  and 
accommodating  itself  thereto,  so  that  the  rider  appeared  as 
firmly  fastened,  and  as  much  at  his  ease,  as  though  he  were  a 
part  of  the  animal.  After  half  a  dozen  plunges,  and  some 
soothing  words,  the  excited  horse  having  expressed  his  displea 
sure  by  snorts,  frequent  and  loud  at  first,  but  gradually  decreas 
ing  in  rapidity  and  loudness,  yielded  to  the  strong  arm  of  his 
master,  and  reduced  his  pace  to  the  long  trot  at  which  he  had 
before  proceeded. 

"  My  noble  Mourad,"  said  the  rider,  patting  the  steed's  neck, 
and  addressing  him  as  if  capable  of  understanding  language — 
"  I  wonder  not  at  thine  astonishment ;  but  when  these  thoughts 
possess  me,  I  am  oblivious  of  everything  else.  I  will  be  more 
heedful  henceforth,  nor  allow  splendid  imaginations  to  prick 
thine  innocent  sides." 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN   MELICE.  41 

The  flexible  ears  of  Mourad  moved  backward  and  forward 
while  his  rider  was  speaking,  his  dilated  eyes  glanced  repeatedly 
back  at  him,  and  he  shook  his  head  as  if  not  half  satisfied  with 
the  apology. 

And  now  the  stranger,  leisurely  advancing,  soon  reached  the 
little  collection  of  houses.  Guiding  his  horse  carefully  through 
the  unpaved  streets,  and  avoiding  the  stumps  of  trees  which  were 
occasionally  to  be  met,  he  stopped  at  a  house  of  somewhat  more 
imposing  appearance  than  the  rest.  It  was  of  wood,  like  most 
of  the  other  dwellings,  and  differed  from  them  principally  in 
being  larger.  It  could  not  be  said  to  belong  to  any  order  or  style 
of  architecture,  but  bore  a  general  resemblance  to  buildings  erected 
in  England  at  the  time.  It  stood  with  its  gable-ends,  three  in 
number,  to  the  street,  the  roof  rising  up  steeply,  and  making  a 
considerable  garret,  the  side  of  the  gable-ends  projecting  over 
the  second  story,  as  did  also  that  over  the  first.  The  windows 
were  of  a  square  form,  with  small  diamond-shaped  panes,  open 
ing  by  hinges  at  the  sides,  and  there  was  but  one  entrance  in 
front,  to  protect  which  a  small  verandah  or  porch  was  thrown 
across  the  building.  Two  men,  in  the  ordinary  dress  and  equip 
ments  of  soldiers  of  the  period,  their  clumsy  muskets  leaning 
against  the  side,  were  seated  on  a  bench  near  the  entrance,  and 
by  their  presence  indicated  the  residence  of  Governor  Winthrop. 

*'  Is  the  right  worshipful  Governor  at  home  so  that  he  may  be 
seen  ?"  inquired  the  stranger,  as  he  dismounted  from  the  horse, 
whose  bridle  was  held  by  one  of  the  soldiers. 

"  He  is  at  home,  and  may  be  seen,  Sir  Christopher,"  replied 
one  of  the  men.  "  I  will  conduct  you  to  his  presence." 

So  saying,  the  soldier  opened  the  door,  and  preceding  the 
visitor,  ushered  him  into  a  hall  some  ten  feet  wide,  and  thence 
into  a  small  ante-room,  or  room  of  reception,  where  he  was 
entreated  to  be  seated,  while  his  arrival  should  be  announced. 

It  required  but  a  moment,  which  was  the  whole  time  of  the  sol- 

2* 


42  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

dier's  absence,  for  the  stranger  to  take  a  survey  of  the  room 
wherein  he  sat. 

It  was  not  more  than  twelve  or  fifteen  feet  square,  and  destitute 
of  paper  or  hangings,  and  the  floor,  like  that  of  the  hall,  was 
bare,  and  made  of  coarsely-planed  boards,  it  had  two  doors, 
one  opening  into  the  hall  and  another  into  an  adjoining  room, 
and  was  lighted  by  a  single  window.  Its  furniture  consisted  of 
only  a  few  wooden  chairs  and  benches. 

"  The  right  worshipful  Governor  directs  me  to  invite  you  to 
him,"  said  the  messenger,  throwing  open  the  second  door  above 
mentioned. 

The  stranger  rose,  and  crossing  with  a  stately  step  the  ante 
chamber,  followed  the  soldier  into  the  adjoining  apartment. 

"  Welcome,  Sir  Christopher,"  exclaimed  the  Governor,  rising 
from  a  desk,  at  which  he  had  been  writing,  and  advancing  with 
extended  hand  to  his  visitor,  "  I  am  honored  in  seeing  you  again 
in  my  poor  house." 

"He  may  deem  himself  a  minion  of  fortune,"  courteously  re 
plied  the  stranger  addressed  as  Sir  Christopher,  grasping  the 
offered  hand,  "  who  either  in  this  far  wilderness  or  in  the  proud 
streets  of  London,  is  privileged  to  exchange  salutations  of  friend 
ship  with  so  worthy  and  every  way  accomplished  a  gentleman  as 
the  honored  chief  magistrate  of  this  colony." 

"  Alas  !  I  fear,"  rejoined  Winthrop,  taking  a  seat,  after  first 
formally  seating  the  other,  "  alas !  I  fear  that  my  shoulders  are 
too  weak  for  so  great  a  burden.  Were  it  not  for  the  prize  of 
the  high  calling  set  before  me,  and  the  sweet  refreshment  some 
times  breathed  into  me  by  the  Spirit,  I  should  faint  beneath  its 
weight." 

"  We  are  commanded  neither  to  faint  nor  to  be  weary  of  well 
doing,"  said  Sir  Christopher,  il  with  comfortable  assurances  that 
as  is  our  need,  so  shall  our  strength  be.  But,  honored  sir,  I 
much  mistake  the  nobility  of  your  mind,  if  you  would  be  willing 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  43 

to  exchange  your  high  place  for  a  meaner  lot.  I  thank  G-od  that 
you  are  placed  upon  an  eminence  to  be  a  tower  of  strength  to 
those  who  do  well,  and  a  terror  to  the  evil." 

"  Better,"  replied  Winthrop,  "  is  the  humble  cottage  than  the 
lordly  structure  whereunto  your  poetical  and  extravagant  polite 
ness  hath  likened  me.  Remember,"  he  added,  with  a  smile, 
wherein  there  was  some  bitterness  mingled  with  its  melancholy, 
for  he  had  of  late  been  annoyed  by  the  rougher  nature  of  Dudley, 
and  the  jealousy  of  some  of  the  Assistants,  "  altce  turres  cadunt 
dam  humiles  casoe  slant" 

"  Noble  sir,"  said  Sir  Christopher,  "  be  not  cast  down.  The 
foundations  of  your  house  are  built  upon  a  basis  too  broad  and 
firm  to  be  blown  down  by  the  disorderly  breaths  of  lackeys  and 
trencher-scrapers.  Pardon  me,  if  in  my  zeal  I  apply  igno 
minious  terms  to  your  enemies." 

"  There  be  those  to  be  ranked  in  that  category  who  yet  in  no 
wise  deserve  such  epithets,"  answered  the  generous  Governor. 
"  Were  opposition  to  come  only  from  so  base  a  quarter,  little 
should  I  heed,  and  rather  consider  it  an  incitement  to  keener 
action ;  but  there  are  also  choice  spirits,  elect  vessels,  pillars  of 
the  congregation,  men  inspired  with  godly  zeal,  who  are  per 
suaded  themselves,  and  would  persuade  others,  that  I  am  luke 
warm  in  the  cause,  and  bsar  the  sword  in  vain." 

"  If  the  peevish  captiousness  of  these  persons  is  greatly  to 
influence,  I  will  not  say  over-awe  you,  noble  sir,"  said  Sir  Chris 
topher,  "  I  tremble  lest  the  errand  of  mercy  whereon  I  come 
should  fail  of  its  purpose." 

"  Ever  true  to  the  principle  of  the  Me/U<7cra,"  said  the  Gov 
ernor,  smiling  "  what  can  the  Knight  of  the  Golden  Melice  crave 
which  John  Winthrop  can  deny  I" 

The  Knight  of  the  Golden  Mehiaaa,  or  Melice,  as  he  was 
commonly  called,  meaning  thereby  the  Knight  of  the  Golden 
Honey-Bee,  and  who,  by  wearing  conspicuously  about  his  person 


44       THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

the  device  or  badge  adopted  when  he  received  the  order  of  knight 
hood,  only  complied  with  the  fantastic  notions  of  the  times, 
gazed  a  moment  at  the  figure  of  the  bee  on  the  handle  of  his 
sword,  before  replying : 

"  The  golden  bee  does  indeed  remind  me,"  he  said,  "  that  even 
as  he,  in  the  summer  of  his  days,  collects  the  yellow  treasure 
which  is  to  sustain  him  in  the  death  of  winter,  so  should  I,  while 
the  day  is  mine,  be  busy  to  perform  the  will  of  Him  who  hath 
called  me  to  a  post  in  his  creation,  that  I  be  not  ashamed  in  the 
grave.  I  came  to  ask  a  favor  in  behalf  of  the  soldier  Philip  Joy." 

The  eyes  of  Winthrop,  which,  while  the  knight  was  speaking, 
had  been  fastened  on  his  face,  fell  upon  the  rich  Turkey  carpet 
that,  with  its  intricate  figures  and  varied  dies,  covered,  in  place 
of  a  modern  cloth,  the  table  supporting  the  desk  whereat  he  had 
been  writing. 

"  The  soldier,"  he  said,  at  last,  slowly,  "  is  enduring  the  punish 
ment  awarded  to  him  by  the  Court  of  Assistants." 

"A  harsh  and  cruel  sentence,"  said  the  knight,  "and  one  at 
the  infliction  whereof  I  know  your  noble  nature  relucted." 

"  I  may  not,  without  censure  of  my  own  conscience,  hear  those 
who  are  associated  with  me  in  the  government  blamed." 

"  I  would  not  trespass  on  the  bounds  of  courteous  license,  but 
cannot  believe  that  your  gentle  temper  approves  of  proceedings 
at  once  severe  and  impolitic." 

"  It  becomes  me  not,"  said  Winthrop,  modestly,  "  to  set  up  my 
sentiments  against  the  opinion  of  a  majority.  This  is  not  the 
government  of  one  man,  and  I  am,  as  I  may  say,  it  being  properly 
understood,  only  primus  inter  pares" 

"  Then  avouch  yourself  to  some  purpose  to  be  truly  primus, 
and  by  your  kingly  mercy  not  only  put  to  silence  the  unruly 
tongues  of  men  complaining  of  harshness  not  without  reason,  but 
also  take  away  the  occasion  for  reproach." 

"  Hitherto,"   said  Winthrop,   "  you  have  spoken  in   riddles, 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.       45 

though  they  are  not  hard  to  be  guessed ;  but,  nevertheless,  let 
me  entreat  you  to  explicate,  in  plainer  phrase,  your  meaning, 
and  reveal  your  full  desire.'* 

"  I  came,  then,"  answered  the  knight,  "  to  solicit  the  full  par 
don  of  Joy." 

"  It  may  not  be.  Though  the  right  to  pardon  would  seem  in 
herent  in  him  to  whose  hands  is  entrusted  the  power  to  punish, 
that  the  sorrow  of  inflicting  pain  might  be  balanced  by  the  joy 
of  conferring  pleasure,  and  so  his  omee  be  not  wholly  converted 
into  that  of  an  executioner,  yet  were  I  ever  so  much  disposed,  I 
could  not,  in  the  present  case,  grant  your  request.  It  would  raise 
a  storm  which,  however  little  to  be  regarded  for  its  consequences 
to  myself,  might  be  seriously  injurious  to  the  budding  interests  of 
our  infant  state." 

"  I  pray  you  to  consider,"  said  the  knight,  "  the  good  character 
of  the  man  accused,  ever  approving  himself  brave  and  faithful  in 
all  trusts  confided  to  him  ;  no  drone,  but  an  active  honey-bee, 
laying  up  store  in  your  hive,  with  no  fault  charged  but  speaking 
too  freely,  and  if  that  be  true,  only  imitating  therein  his  betters. 
Next  reflect  upon  the  opposite  reputation  of  his  accusers,  and  I 
venture  to  say  maligners,  though  in  truth  there  is  but  one,  not 
sustained  by  the  other.  Men  are  murmuring  at  your  sentence, 
and  holding  your  justice  for  naught,  a  sure  presage  of  troublous 
times;  and  be  assured,  that  a  commonwealth  not  founded  in 
righteousness  cannot  stand,  for  on  it  rests  not  the  blessing  of 
Heaven." 

"  Sir  Christopher  Gardiner,"  said  Winthrop,  "you  have  spoken 
boldly,  and  but  that  I  believe  in  your  honesty,  and  am  assured 
of  your  friendship,  I  should  be  offended.  But  you  belong  not  to 
the  congregation,  your  notions  differing  from  our  faith  ;  the  light 
which  illuminates  the  minds  of  the  chosen  remnant  which  Pro 
vidence  hath  planted  in  this  far  off  land,  this  ultissima  Thule, 
not  yet  having  penetrated  your  understanding.  Your  freedom 


46  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE. 

of  speech,  therefore,  because  in  favor  of  mercy,  shall  not  preju 
dice,  though  it  might  injure  you  were  it  to  reach  the  ears  of  some 
of  whom  we  wot.  But  know,  Sir  Christopher,  that  your  zeal 
makes  you  unjust,  and  that  you  have  defamed  a  Godfearing 
Commonwealth,  and  one  in  covenant  with  God.  Not  without 
His  guidance  did  we  trust  ourselves  to  a  raging  sea,  calmed  for 
our  sake  by  His  breath ;  and  not  without  His  inspiration  are  we 
building  up  a  State,  after  His  own  divine  model,  which  shall  be 
the  admiration  of  the  world.  The  kings  of  the  earth  may  rise 
up,  and  the  heathen  rage,  and  the  people  imagine  a  vain  thing; 
but  know,  Sir  Christopher,  that  the  gates  of  hell  shall  not  pre 
vail  against  us." 

As  the  usually  calm  Winthrop  concluded  his  prophecy,  he 
smote  the  table  with  his  hand,  as  if  to  give  emphasis  to  his 
words. 

"  My  wise,  and  prudent,  and  most  valued  friend,"  said  Sir 
Christopher,  rising  and  approaching  the  Governor,  ''pardon  me, 
if  with  sacrilegious,  though  unwitting  hand,  I  have  touched  the 
sacred  ark  of  your  faith.  But  I  were  meaner  than  a  stock  or  a 
stone;  I  were  duller  than  an  insensible  clod;  I  were  worse  than 
an  idolati-ous  heathen  or  a  beast,  if  I  were  unwilling  to 
encounter  any  danger,  even  to  the  hazard  of  losing  your  friend 
ship,  for  the  sake  of  a  man,  who,  at  the  risk  of  his  own  life, 
saved  mine." 

"  I  heard  not  of  your  debt  before,"  said  Winthrop. 

"  It  was  in  Moldavia,  on  the  bloody  field  of  Choczim,  where 
the  Poles  defeated  the  Turks.  I  was  then  but  a  stripling,  and 
the  impetuosity  of  youth,  or  the  fiery  temper  of  my  horse,  had 
borne  me  in  advance  of  my  friends,  when  I  was  surrounded  by 
the  infidels  and  hard  bested,  and  my  life  beyond  peradventure  had 
paid  the  penalty  of  my  rashness,  and  my  bones  been  left  cleaned 
by  the  wolfs  teeth  to  whiten  on  the  sand,  but  for  this  valiant 
soldier.  Disregarding  danger,  he  leaped  among  the  foe,  and  so 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.  47 

lustily  plied  his  blows,  that  together  we  bore  the  turbans  down, 
until  his  bridle-hand  was  struck.  Then  was  it  time  to  fall  back, 
for  verily  we  had  need  of  both  hands,  with  the  one  to  guide  our 
horses,  and  with  the  other  to  defend  our  heads.  I  seized  his 
rein,  and  with  our  flashing  swords,  side  by  side,  we  fought  our 
way  through  the  throng.  Judge,  then,  if  I  were  not  an  ingrate 
to  forget  the  service." 

"  It  is  a  pity,  for  the  sake  of  the  prisoner,"  said  Winthrop, 
"  that  either  Standish  or  Endicott  is  not  in  my  place :  a  tale  of 
daring  were  sure  to  win  their  ears,  and  upon  its  recital,  the  cause 
were  as  good  as  gained ;  but  much  as  I  admire  the  valor  of  the 
soldier  and  respect  your  feelings,  I,  who  was  bred  a  lawyer,  and 
not  a  warrior,  see  not  therein  a  motive  to  grant  your  request." 

"  If  friendship  for  me,  and  personal  merit  in  the  man,  avail 
not  to  move  you,  at  least  listen  to  the  voice  of  humanity.  You 
intend  not  surely  to  murder  him." 

u  What  *?"  exclaimed  Winthrop.  "  Speak  plainer,  Sir  Chris 
topher." 

"  I  say,  honored  sir,  that  the  treatment  of  this  Joy,  for  an 
offence  which  can  rank  as  a  crime  only  by  reason  of  some 
peculiarity  in  your  situation,  justifying  extraordinary  severity, 
is  unworthy  of  you  as  the  Vicegerent  of  his  Majesty  in  this 
colony. 

"  Methinks,"  said  Winthrop,  coldly  and  formally,  "  you  have 
already,  in  other  phrase,  said  the  same  thing." 

"  But  I  aver  now  that  this  hapless,  and,  but  for  me,  unfriended 
man,  (alas  that  my  influence  in  his  behalf  is  less  than  nought,) 
is  likely  to  escape  the  greater  part  of  his  sentence,  by  perishing 
on  your  hands,  if  not  soon  released  from  confinement." 

"  Is  he  ill  ?" 

"  111  unto  death.  I  fear.  Surely  you  cannot  be  acquainted 
with  the  cruelties  practised  upon  him.  I  have  not  beholden  them 
with  mine  own  eyes ;  but  my  knowledge  is  this — as  soon  as  I 


43  THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

heard  of  Philip's  misfortune,  in  whom,  why  I  feel  an  interest 
you  now  know,  I  hastened  to  his  prison,  and  there,  with  some 
difficulty  learned,  that  not  only  is  he  manacled,  and  his  ancles 
chained,  but  also  is  confined  by  a  band  of  iron  around  his  body, 
to  a  post  erected  in  the  centre  of  his  dungeon,  so  as  to  be  unable 
to  lie  down,  under  a  pretext  of  the  desperation  of  the  man  and 
the  weakness  of  his  dungeon." 

"  Believe  me,  Sir  Christopher,  I  knew  not  this ;  but  the  thing 
shall  be  looked  into,  and  if  there  be  no  error  in  your  information, 
I  will  venture  to  brave  the  resentment  of  my  colleagues  and  the 
rest,  and  release  this  Joy  for  the  present,  taking  such  order  in 
other  respects  that  the  remaining  sentence  of  the  Court  shall  not 
remain  a  nullity." 

"  I  pray  you,  excellent  sir,  of  your  bounty,  to  be  speedy  in 
the  inquiry  into  this  matter,"  urged  the  knight,  "  being  well 
assured  that  you  will  find  my  information  verified." 

'•  Rest  satisfied  with  my  peremptory  promise,"  replied  Win- 
throp.  "And  now,  Sir  Christopher,  that  this  business  which 
you  have  so  much  at  heart  is  in  a  fair  train  to  arrive  at  a  result 
to  content  you,  tell  me  something  of  your  doings  at  the  Mount 
of  Promise,  as  it  is  your  pleasure  to  call  your  retirement.  How 
fares  it  with  your  kinswoman,  the  lady  Geraldine?  Time,  I 
trust,  doth  blunt  the  edge  of  her  melancholy." 

"  Alas,  no !  she  still  continues  to  grieve  with  an  unreasonable 
grief.  Time,  brings  no  balm." 

"  It  should  not  be  so.  The  sooner  we  become  reconciled  to 
the  afflictive  dispensations  of  Providence  (under  which  I 
understand  she  suffers,)  the  better  for  both  soul's  and  body's 
health." 

"  There  are  some  natures,  whereupon,  when  an  impression  is 
once  made,  it  is  not  readily  effaced,  and  the  lady  G-eraldine's  is 
such.  Yet  do  I  not  despair  of  her  restoration  to  tranquillity." 

"  I  must  request  godly  Mr.   Eliot    to  visit  her.     There  is  no 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.  49 

soother  so  effectual  as  the  soft  voice  of  the  Gospel.  But  for 
yourself,  Sir  Christopher,  tire  you  not  of  the  monotony  of  your 
forest  life?" 

"  So  far  therefrom,  I  love  it  hourly  more.  My  early  days 
were  wild  and  stormy,  of  some  particulars  whereof  I  have  pos 
sessed  you ;  and  although  I  have  not  reached  my  meridian,  yet 
am  I  satiated  with  vanity.  I  am  like  a  ship,  whose  tempest- 
beaten  sides  rest  sweetly  in  a  haven.  As  contentedly  she  hears 
the  winds  howling  without,  so  I  listen  from  afar  to  the  uproar  of 
the  world,  and  pleased,  contrast  my  calm  therewith." 

"  Man  was  not  made  for  inaction,"  said  Winthrop. 

"  I  shun  no  honorable  labor.  Instruct  me  how  to  be  useful  to 
the  little  State  which  enjoys  the  happiness  to  call  you  father  and 
ruler,  and  no  toil  or  danger  but  shall  be  welcome." 

"  You  know  there  is  but  one  difficulty  that  stands  in  your  way 
to  occupy  the  position  due  to  both  your  rank  and  merit." 

A  shadow  passed  over  the  face  of  the  knight. 

"  We  will  not  speak  thereof,"  he  said.  "  When  I  offered  to  join 
the  congregation,  who  would  have  thought  that  so  trifling  a  dif 
ference  could  close  your  bosoms  against  me?" 

"  Call  not  the  difference  slight,  nor  our  bosoms  closed," 
answered  Winthrop ;  "  but  I  trust  that  further  reflection,  your 
spirit  being  lighted  by  beams  of  grace,  will  convince  you  that  in 
our  exposition  we  erred  not." 

At  this  moment  a  slight  rustling  was  heard  at  the  other  end  of 
the  apartment,  and  the  knight  turning,  beheld  a  man  having  the 
appearance  of  a  servant  advancing. 

"How  now,  sirrah,"  cried  Winthrop,  "what  means  this  in 
trusion  ?" 

"  I  thought  I  heard  the  Governor  call,"  said  the  man. 

"  I  called  not,"  said  Winthrop ;  "  but  being  here,  bring  re 
freshments.  His  presence  opportunely  reminds  me,"  he  added, 
turning  to  the  knight,  "  of  my  breach  of  hospitality,  occasioned 
by  my  interest  in  the  conversation." 


50       THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

In  a  short  time  the  servant  returned  bearing  a  silver  salver,  on 
which  were  placed  wine  and  a  venison  pasty,  (for  the  robuster  ap 
petites  of  our  ancestors  vv  ui 1  have  scorned  more  delicate  viand-,) 
which  he  placed  on  a  sideboard. 

Before  the  knight  addressed  himself  to  the  pasty,  which  he 
soon  did,  with  an  appetite  sharpened  by  his  morning  ride,  he 
filled  two  goblets  with  wine,  and  presenting  one  to  his  host, 
begged  to  pledge  him  in  a  health  to  the  prosperity  of  the  infant 
Commonwealth. 

"  The  building  up  of  our  Zion  lies  nearest  my  heart,  and  un 
ceasingly  do  my  prayers  ascend  on  her  behalf,"  answered  Win- 
throp;  "but — think  me  not  discourteous — I  may  not,  without 
sin,  comply  with  your  request  in  the  drinking  of  healths." 

"  How !"  exclaimed  the  knight,  "  is  there  any  forbidding 
thereof  in -Holy  Scripture?" 

"  Nay,  I  find  no  interdiction  therein,  but  manifold  cause  in 
the  reason  of  the  thing  itself  for  the  suppressing  of  a  vain  custom. 
Thus  do  I  argue  :  Every  empty  and  ineffectual  representation  of 
serious  things  is  a  way  of  vanity.  But  this  custom  is  such ;  for 
it  is  intended  to  hold  forth  love  and  wishes  of  health,  which  are 
serious  things,  by  drinking,  which  neither  in  the  nature  nor  use 
it  is  able  to  effect,  for  it  is  looked  at  as  a  mere  compliment, 
and  is  not  taken  as  an  argument  of  love,  which  ought  to  be  un 
feigned.  Or  the  same  proposition  may  be  proved  diversely,  as 
thus:  To  employ  the  custom,  out  of  its  natural  use,  without  war 
rant  of  authority,  necessity  or  conveniency,  is  a  way  of  vanity. 
But  this  custom  doth.  Or,  again  ;  such  a  resolution  as  frees  a 
man  from  frequent  and  needless  temptations,  to  dissemble  love, 
et  cv?tera,»(quateims  it  doth  so.)  is  a  wholesome  resolution.  But 
this  resolution  doth.  Ergo,  Sir  Christopher,  pray  have  me 
(with  protestation  of  no  discourtesy)  excused." 

<;  Although  your  scruples  appear  strange,  yet  will  I  respect 
them,  my  honored  host,  as  it  becomes  me  to,  any  opinion  enter- 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  51 

tained  by  you,"  replied  the  knight;  "but  if  the  tongue  be  tied, 
the  spirit,  at  leant,  is  free  to  indulge  in  wishes  for  your  welfare." 

So  saying,  he  raised  the  goblet  to  his  lips,  and  drained  it  of  its 
contents.  Nor  did  the  Governor,  though  refusing  to  join  in  the 
idle  custom  of  drinking  healths,  which,  by  his  influence,  had  been 
pretty  generally  banished  from  the  tables  of  the  principal  inhabi 
tants,  decline  a  draught,  therein  bearing  in  mind  the  advice  of 
Paul  to  Timothy,  and  considering  it  an  allowable  solace  and 
strengthener  to  enable  him  the  better  to  bear  the  cares  of  state. 
Upon  the  conclusion  of  the  interview,  the  knight  courteously 
took  leave,  after  thanking  the  Governor  for  his  promise  in  behalt 
of  the  imprisoned  soldier,  and,  mounting  his  horse,  returned  the 
way  he  came. 

When  he  was  gone,  Winthrop  fell  into  a  fit  of  musing. 

"  What  am  I  to  think  of  this  man  ?"  (such  was  the  tenor  of  his 
reflections.)  "  Is  he  what  he  appears?  Doth  the  garniture  of  his 
spirit  conform  to  the  polished  and  attractive  surface  ?  Is  he,  as 
sometimes  from  his  language  might  be  surmised,  one  who,  though 
young  in  years,  is  old  in  experience,  and  hath  already  discovered 
how  unsatisfactory  are  the  vanities  of  the  world?  There  be 
such  men  in  these  strange  days.  And  yet,  how  wonderfully  hath 
he  preserved  his  cheerfulness,  and  though  chastened,  is  not  cast 
down !  That  he  hath  been  a  cavalier,  I  plainly  see,  and  he  doth 
admit;  that  he  is  fit  at  present  to  be  one  of  us,  I  doubt ;  that  he 
will  be,  I  hope.  The  jealous  Dudley,  the  suspicious  Endicott, 
and  the  subtle  Spikeman,  are  disposed  to  regard  him  as  one  who, 
under  the  mask  of  an  angel  of  light,  doth  conceal  dangerous  de 
signs  ;  as  a  plotter  of  mischief ;  some  cunning  tool  of  our  enemies, 
who  have  sent  him  hither  to  creep  into  our  confidence,  that  he 
may  the  better  detect  our  weakness  and  confound  our  plans.  I 
cannot  harbor  these  latter  notions.  There  is  that  about  the  knight 
which  gives  the  lie  to  suspicion.  Who  can  look  upon  his  noble 
countenance  and  listen  to  the  tones  of  his  sincere  voice,  and  not 


52  THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

be  satisfied  of  his  truth  ?  Did  he  not,  on  his  arrival,  com 
municate  to  me  his  views,  which,  however  romantic,  are  con 
sistent  both  with  the  training  of  his  previous  life  and  the  change 
which  hath  been  effected  in  his  feelings  ?  And  doubtful  myself, 
lest  the  gracious  impression  he  made  upon  me  might  pervert  my 
judgment,  did  I  not  set  a  watch  upon  his  motions,  and  find  them 
all  to  harmonize  with  his  frank  and  gallant  bearing  I  I  see  no 
cause  to  alter  my  conduct  or  withdraw  my  confidence.  Yet  will 
I  be  guarded  in  our  intercourse.  If  I  err,  it  shall  be  on  the  side 
of  prudence ;  but  this  matter  whereunto  he  hath  called  my  atten 
tion,  shall  forthwith  be  searched.  It  were  shame  if  the  cruelty 
whereof  he  complains  has  been  practised.  Ah  me,  the  eye  of 
the  ruler  cannot  be  everywhere !  There  be  those  who  already 
term  our  justice  tyranny,  and  who  would  be  glad  to  be  furnished 
with  another  occasion  of  complaint.  Nor  can  I  conceal  from 
myself  that  the  sentence  of  the  soldier  is  harsh.  It  was  against 
both  my  feeling  and  rny  judgment.  How  often  am  I  compelled 
to  practise  a  severity  over  which  my  softer,  and  perhaps  weaker 
nature,  mourns!" 


CHAPTER  in. 

"  I  am  sorry  one  so  learned  and  so  wise, 
As  you,  Lord  Angelo,  have  still  appeared, 
Should  slip  so  grossly,  both  in  the  heat  of  blood 
And  lack  of  tempered  judgment  afterward.'* 

MEASURE  FOR  MEASURE. 

EARLY  in  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day,  a  man  whom  we  re 
cognize  as  the  servant  we  saw  at  the  Governor's  house,  entered  a 
building  which  stood  not  far  from  the  margin  of  the  bay.  It 
belonged  to  the  Assistant  Spikeman,  and  it  was  he  whom  the 
man  sought.  The  Assistant  was  found  sitting  before  his  ledger, 
whose  pages  were  open,  and  surrounded  by  the  articles  of  his 
traffic,  for  he  was  a  merchant,  largely  engaged  in  the  purchase  and 
sale  of  the  products  of  the  country,  from  which  he  had  drawn 
substantial  gains.  Quintals  of  dried  fish  were  piled  up  in  one 
part  of  the  store-room,  in  another,  bundles  of  furs  procured  from 
the  Indians,  in  a  third,  casks  and  barrels  containing  spirituous 
liquors,  and  elsewhere  were  stored  cloths  of  various  descriptions, 
and  hardware,  and  staves  and  hoops,  and,  in  short,  almost  every 
thing  necessary  to  prosecute  a  trade  between  the  old  country  and 
the  new. 

The  Assistant  raised  his  head  at  the  noise  made  by  the 
entrance  of  the  man,  and  passing  his  fingers  through  the  short, 
thick  red  hair  that  garnished  his  head,  demanded,  "  What  new 
thing  bringest  thou,  Ephraiml" 

"  There  has  been,"  answered  the  man,  "  him  whom  they  call 
the  Knight  of  the  Golden  Melice,  though  I  know  not  what  it 


54:  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

means,  with  the  Governor  this  morning,  and  according  to  your 
wishes,  I  have  come  to  acquaint  you  therewith." 

"  Thou  hast  well  done,  and  thy  zeal  in  the  service  of  the  Com 
monwealth  and  of  the  congregation  merits  and  shall  have  reward. 
What  passages  passed  between  them  ?" 

"  I  heard  only  part  of  the  conversation,  but  enough  to  make 
me  believe  that  the  Governor,  at  the  prayer  of  the  strange  knight, 
means  to  release  the  soldier  Philip  Joy." 

"  Veri'y  !"  exclaimed  Spikeman.  "  Art  sure  you  heard  aright? 
Rehearse  to  me  what  was  said." 

The  spy  employed  by  the  Assistant  to  be  a  watch  upon  the 
conduct  of  Winthrop,  here  went  into  a  detail  of  his  discoveries, 
to  all  which  the  other  listened  with  fixed  attention. 

When  the  man  had  concluded  his  narration,  which  was  inter 
larded  with  protestations  of  pious  zeal,  the  Assistant  said  : 

"  I  do  commend  thee  greatly,  Ephraim,  for  thy  sagacity,  and 
the  promptitude  wherewith  thou  hast  made  me  acquainted  with 
these  matters.  Not  that  thou  or  I  have  any  more  interest  in 
this  thing  than  other  godly  men  who  have  fled  from  the  per 
secution  of  the  priests  of  Baal,  to  worship  the  God  of  our  fathers 
in  the  wilderness  according  to  the  promptings  of  our  own  con 
science,  but  it  doth  become  every  one  to  keep  his  lamp  trimmed 
and  burning,  and  to  watch,  lest  the  lion  leap  into  the  fold.  I 
misdoubt  me  much,  that  this  same  Sir  Christopher  Gardiner,  as 
he  calls  himself,  or  this  Knight  of  the  Golden  Melice,  as-  some 
have  it,  meaning  thereby,  doubtless,  malice,  is  no  better  than 
some  emissary  of  Satan,  unto  which  opinion  his  interposing  for 
this  blaspheming  Joy  doth  strongly  incline  me.  Therefore,  good 
Ephraim,  keep  thou  thine  eyes  upon  him,  and  shouldest  thou  be 
the  instrument  elected  by  Providence  to  bring  his  wicked  devices 
to  light,  great  will  be  thy  praise  and  reward." 

Having  thus  spoken,  Spikeman  \vaved  his  hand  and  turned 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.       55 

away,  to  intimate  that  the  conference  was  at  an  end,   but  the 
man  remained  standing. 

"  Wherefore  do  you  delay?  You  may  retire,"  said  Spikeman. 
"  I  bethink  me  that  but  a  little  time  remains  for  preparation  for 
the  afternoon  lecture." 

"  Is  not  the  laborer  worthy  of  his  hire1?"  inquired  Ephraim. 
"  Shall  they  who  work  in  the  Lord's  vineyard  receive  no 
wage  f ' 

"  My  mind  ran  not  on  the  perishable  riches  of  this  world," 
answered  the  Assistant,  pulling  out,  with  a  very  ill  grace,  a  well 
filled  leathern  purse,  and  taking  from  it  a  silver  piece,  which  he 
offered  to  the  servant,  but  the  fellow  had  caught  sight  of  gold, 
and  was  not  so  easily  to  be  satisfied. 

"Is  thy  servant  a  dog?"  he  demanded.  "The  princely 
Governor  would  give  me  gold  for  information  of  less  value." 

"  Take  two,"  replied  Spikeman,  holding  out  another,  "  and  be 
content.  Reflect  that  you  are  one  of  the  congregation,  and  have 
an  equal  part  in  this  inheritance  with  myself." 

"  I  think  not,"  said  Ephraim,  looking  around  the  well-filled 
store-house.  "  Is  that  a  proper  wage,  your  worship,"  he  added, 
glancing  disdainfully  at  the  money,  "  to  offer  one,  who,  on  your 
account,  risks  the  slitting  of  his  nose,  and  cutting  off  of  his  ears  ? 
Wake  the  white  yellow  and  it  will  not  be  too  much." 

"  Would  that  I  had  the  treasures  of  Ophir  for  thy  sake,"  ex 
claimed  Spikeman  ;  "  but  I  am  a  ruined  man  if  thou  require  so 
much,  Ephraim  Pike.  But  there,  take  the  Carolus,  and  let  it  be 
an  incentive  to  godly  action." 

Ephraim  received  the  gold  piece,  and  his  features  relaxed  into 
something  like  a  smile. 

"  Truly,"  said  he,  "  did  David,  the  man  after  God's  heart, 
speak  by  inspiration  when  he  declared — "  Never  saw  I  the  right 
eous  forsaken,  or  his  seed  begging  bread." 

Spikeman  made  no  reply,  and  the  man  having  attained  his 


56      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

object,  and  observing  the  other's  desire  to  be  rid  of  him,  with 
drew. 

The  countenance  of  the  Assistant  expressed  chagrin  and  dis 
pleasure  as  he  looked  after  the  retiring  form  of  the  serving-man ; 
but  presently  he  buried  his  face  in  his  hands,  leaning  his  elbows 
on  the  tall  writing-table  that  stood  before  him.  In  this  attitude 
he  remained  some  little  time,  and  when  he  removed  them,  the 
expression  of  his  face  was  changed,  arid  his  mind  evidently  filled 
with  other  thoughts.  The  look  of  vexation  had  been  succeeded 
by  one  it  is  difficult  to  describe — a  kind  of  smile  played  around 
his  lips,  his  eyes  sparkled,  his  color  was  heightened,  and  a  slight 
moisture  exuded  from  the  corners  of  his  mouth — he  was  ugljer 
and  more  repulsive  than  before.  He  bent  over,  and  on  a  piece 
of  paper  which  lay  before  him,  wrote  with  a  hand  that  trembled 
a  little — "  How  fair  and  how  pleasant  art  thou  O  love,  for  de 
lights."  This  sentence  he  scrawled  several  times,  and  then  tak 
ing  up  the  piece  of  paper,  he  tore  it  into  small  fragments,  and 
scattered  them  on  the  floor,  after  which,  composing  his  face  into 
an  austere  seeming,  he  placed  his  high  steeple-crowned  hat  on 
his  head,  and,  leaving  the  building,  proceeded  in  the  direction  of 
his  dwelling-house.  As  he  advanced  leisurely  along,  he  soon 
heard  the  sound  of  a  drum  beaten  through  the  streets,  to  sum 
mon  the  people  to  one  of  those  weekly  lectures,  in  which  spirit 
ual  instruction  was  not  unfrequently  leavened  with  worldly 
wisdom  and  directions  for  political  conduct. 

Meetings  for  religious  lectures,  on  week  days,  were  exceed 
ingly  common,  and  held  in  high  favor ;  indeed,  so  attractive 
were  they,  that  in  the  language  of  an  old  historian,  an  actor  on 
the  spot — "  Many  poor  persons  would  usually  resort  to  two  or 
three  in  the  week,  to  the  great  neglect  of  their  affairs  and  the 
damage  of  the  public."  To  these,  the  people  were  summoned 
by  beat  of  drum,  the  martial  roll  of  which  instrument  called 
them  also  to  muster  for  defence,  upon  a  hostile  alarm,  a  different 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.       57 

tattoo  being  adopted  for  the  latter  purpose.  An  attempt  was  at  one 
time  made  by  the  magistrates  to  diminish  the  frequency  of  these 
meetings,  as  a  serious  inroad  upon  the  industry  of  the  colony; 
but  the  effort  was  resisted,  and  that  successfully,  by  the  elders, 
"  alleging  their  tenderness  of  the  church's  liberty,  as  if  such  a 
precedent  might  enthrall  them  to  the  civil  power,  and  as  if  it 
would  cast  a  blemish  upon  the  elders,  which  would  remain  to 
posterity ;  that  they  should  need  to  be  regulated  by  the  civil 
magistrate,  and  also  raise  an  ill  savor  of  the  people's  coldness, 
that  would  complain  of  much  preaching,  &c.,  whereas  liberty 
for  the  ordinances  was  the  main  end  professed  of  our  coming 
hither."  They  were  social  beings,  and  loved  stimulus  like  the 
rest  of  mankind,  and  had  no  public  amusements.  These  causes 
are  sufficient  to  account  for  the  fondness  for  the  weekly  lecture ; 
but  if  to  them  be  superadded  the  peculiarity  of  their  civil  and 
religious  polity,  which  inculcated  an  extraordinary  affection  for 
each  other  as  God's  chosen  people  destined  to  communion,  not 
here  only,  but  forever ;  and  the  isolation  of  their  situation,  cut 
ting  them  off  from  participation  in  the  stirring  events  to  which 
they  had  been  accustomed,  we  should  wonder  if  they  had  not 
met  frequently  together.  The  elders,  jealous  of  their  influence, 
showed  in  this  instance,  as  they  did  in  others,  a  knowledge  of 
human  nature,  superior  to  that  of  the  magistrates,  and  the  latter 
were  glad  to  retreat  from  the  position  they  had  taken,  "  lest  the 
people  should  break  their  bonds  through  abuse  of  liberty,"  if  the 
wholesome  restraint  exerted  by  the  elders,  by  means  of  the  lec 
tures,  in  order  to  retain  the  people  in  subjection  to  the  civil 
power,  should  be  withdrawn. 

As  the  Assistant  walked  on,  he  began  to  meet  persons  coming  out 
of  their  houses,  m  obedience  to  the  invitation.  There  was  the 
staid  citizen,  whose  sobriety  bordered  on  sternness,  with  hair  closely 
cropped  to  avoid  the  "  unloveliness  of  love-locks,"  covered  with  a 
large  napped  peaked  hat,  and  arrayed  in  broad  white  band  and 

3 


68  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

sad-colored  garments,  on  whose  arm  leaned  his  wife,  or  walked 
independently  at  his  side,  bearing  on  her  head  a  hat  of  similar 
shape  to  her  husband's,  or  else  having  it  protected  with  hood, 
or  cap,  or  coif;  a  white  vandyke  neckerchief  falling  over  the 
shoulders,  and  rising  high  in  the  neck  ;  long-waisted  bodice  of 
velvet  or  silk,  open  in  front,  and  laced  down  to  a  point,  on 
which  was  placed  a  rosette,  with  voluminous  fardingale  of  like 
material,  gathered  up  in  folds  behind,  and  supplying,  though  with 
more  modesty  and  less  bad  taste,  the  place  of  the  more  modern 
"  bishop,"  now  happily  banished  these  regions.  Behind  came 
the  sons  and  daughters,  attired  like  their  parents,  and  imitating 
them  in  gravity  of  demeanor.  There  were  also  some  indented 
apprentices  and  serving  men  and  serving  women,  whom  either 
the  zeal  of  their  masters  and  mistresses  required,  or  their  own 
tastes  or  ideas  of  duty  induced  to  be  present,  while  here  and 
there,  at  the  corners  of  the  streets,  might  be  seen  an  occasional 
Indian,  with  bow  in  hand,  listening  with  admiration  to  the 
marvellous  music  of  the  blood-stirring  instrument,  and  gazing 
with  feelings  compounded  of  fear  and  envy  at  the  strange  people 
gathering  together  to  a  talk  with  the  Great  Spirit. 

The  Assistant  Spikeman,  as  he  passed  the  wayfarers,  returned 
their  demure  salutations  with  solemn  dignity,  as  became  one  in 
high  station,  and  in  whose  ears  was  sounding  a  call  to  a  meeting 
of  the  congregation.  Thus  exchanging  greetings,  he  proceeded  to 
his  house,  where,  entering  the  room  used  by  the  family  as  a  sitting 
apartment,  he  hung  up  his  hat  and  took  a  seat.  But  his  agitation 
did  not  permit  him  to  remain  still,  and  almost  immediately 
he  arose  and  began  to  pace  the  floor.  Hearing  presently 
advancing  footsteps,  he  dropped  into  a  chair,  and  leaning  back 
and  shutting  his  eyes,  assumed  an  expression  of  pain  and  las 
situde.  In  a  moment  the  door  of  the  room  was  opened,  and  a 
comely  woman  of  middle  age  entered,  dressed  for  the  "  meeting." 
"  Dear  heart,"  she  exclaimed,  "  here  have  Eveline  and  I  been 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN    MELICE.  59 

waiting  for  thee  this  quarter  of  an  hour.  You  must  not,  if  you 
are  so  late,  complain  of  me  hereafter,  when  the  lacet  of  my 
bodice  troubles  me,  or  the  plaits  of  my  hair  refuse  to  keep  their 
place,  and  so  I  delay  thee  unreasonably,  as  thou  sayest,  though 
it  is  all  to  honor  thee  ;  for  would  it  not  be  unbeseeming  for  the 
help-meet  of  a  worshipful  Assistant  to  appear  like  a  common 
mechanic's  wife?  But  art  thou  ill  ?"  she  added,  observing  his 
air  of  dejection,  and  instantly  changing  the  tone  that  had  in  it 
something  of  reproach  into  one  of  anxiety  ;  "  then  will  I  remain 
at  home  to  comfort  thee." 

"  No,  dame,"  said  her  husband,  "  there  is  no  cause  to  detain 
thee  from  the  sanctuary.  The  godly  Mr.  Cotton  holds  forth  to 
day,  and  it  would  be  a  sinful  neglect  of  privileges.  I  feel  not 
well  myself,  and  must,  therefore,  for  thy  sake,  as  well  as  my  own, 
deny  myself  the  refreshment  of  the  good  man's  counsel.  Thou 
shalt  go,  to  edify  me  on  thy  return  with  what  thou  mayest 
remember  of  his  discourse." 

But  the  kind  heart  of  dame  Spikeman  was  not  so  easily  to  be 
diverted  from  its  purpose,  and  she  persisted,  with  some  pertinacity, 
in  a  determination  to  remain,  until  her  husband  laid  his  com 
mands  upon  her  to  attend  the  lecture. 

u  I  will  obey,"  she  then  said,  u  sithence  it  is  thy  wish  ;  and  is 
it  not  written,  Adam  was  first  made,  and  then  Eve  ;  and  I  will 
pray  for  thee,  dear  heart,  in  the  congregation,  that  He  will  keep 
thee  in  all  thy  ways,  nor  let  the  enemy  approach  to  harm  or  to 
tempt  thee." 

Spikeman  winced,  and  perhaps  his  conscience  pricked  him  at 
the  moment,  but  he  betrayed  no  confusion  as  he  replied : 

"  I  thank  thee,  sweet  duck,  and  may  the  Lord  recompense 
thy  love  a  thousand  fold.  But  hasten,  now,  for  it  would  ill- 
become  the  wife  of  my  bosom  to  lag  in  attendance  on  the  lecture. 
Meanwhile,  I  will  meditate  on  the  holy  volume,  and  comfort 
myself  as  a  Christian  man  may." 


60  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

Dame  Sptkeman's  ample  fardingale  swept  the  sides  of  the  door 
way  as  she  turned  to  take  a  last  look  at  her  husband  over  her 
shoulder — ?t  look  that  contained  as  much  of  suspicion  as  of  affec 
tion.  He  must  be,  indeed,  a  paragon  of  hypocrisy  who  can  con 
ceal  himself  from  his  wife,  however  dull  she  may  be,  and  the 
faculties  of  the  dame  were  as  sharp  as  those  of  most  of  her  sex. 

Presently  she  was  heard  calling,  "  Eveline ;  why,  Eveline, 
art  not  ready  yet  ?"  to  which  a  sweet  voice  responded,  "  here 
am  I,  dame,"  succeeded  by  the  pattering  of  quick,  light  feet,  and 
a  young  woman,  veiled,  glided  to  her  side,  and  they  left  the  house 
together,  accompanied  by  a  servant.  Spikeman  gazed  after  them 
through  the  window,  which,  as  belonging  to  a  house  of  the  better 
class,  was  made  of  glass  instead  of  oiled  paper,  which  supplied 
its  place  in  the  humbler  tenements,  till  they  were  out  of  sight. 
The  drum  had  some  time  before  ceased  its  sonorous  rattle, 
indicating  thereby  that  the  services  had  commenced,  and  the 
streets  were  bare  of  the  last  loiterer.  Spikeman  then  resumed 
his  seat,  listening  and  glancing  occasionally  at  the  door,  as  if  he 
was  expecting  some  one  to  enter.  At  last,  as  if  tired  of  waiting, 
he  rose,  and  going  to  the  door,  called  softly,  "  Prudence."  No 
answer  was  returned,  and  in  tones  a  little  raised  he  called  again. 
This  time  a  voice  replied,  "  I  am  coming,  your  worship,"  and  the 
Assistant  returned  to  his  seat.  Perhaps  five  minutes  longer 
passed,  and  he  was  becoming  more  impatient,  and  had  risen  from 
his  chair,  when  a  young  woman  in  the  dress  of  an  upper  do 
mestic,  or  lady's  maid,  entered  the  room.  She  was  apparently 
twenty-three  or  twenty-four  years  of  age,  large  and  plump,  and 
glowing  with  health,  and  altogether  of  a  most  attractive  ap 
pearance.  Her  complexion  was  brilliant,  brighter  on  account 
of  the  contrast  with  the  white  tunic  which  fell  over  her  peach- 
blossom  colored  fustian  skirt,  and  her  eyes,  which  were  cast 
down  when  she  came  into  the  room,  disclosed  hazel  pupils  as  she 
raised  them,  and  looked  red,  as  if  she  had  been  weeping. 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN   MELICE.  61 

"  I  have  remained  behind,  according  to  thy  deshe,"  said  the 
Assistant,  advancing  toward  her,  "  for  there  is  nothing  I  would 
not  do  to  pleasure  thee,  Prudence." 

"  I  know  not  that  I  requested  you  to  tarry,"  answered  the  girl, 
"  but  an  I  remember  right,  you  said  you  had  some  tidings  of 
Philip  Joy  which  you  did  wish  to  communicate  to  my  private 
ear." 

"  Something  have  I  to  tell  thee  of  the  poor  varlet,"  said  Spike- 
man  ;  "  but  first  would  I  rather  speak  of  one  who  doth  interest 
me  more.  But  say,  why  is  thy  mind  so  careworn  about  this 
soldier  V ' 

"  He  is  a  friend  of  mine,"  said  Prudence,  blushing ;  "  that  is, 
we  were  neighbors,  and  acquainted  in  dear  old  England — a 
cousin,"  she  added,  telling  naturally  a  little  fib,  "  and  so  I  am 
sorry  to  hear  of  his  misfortune." 

"  I  hope  that  you  do  not  long  after  the  flesh-pots  of  Egypt," 
said  Spikeman,  attempting  to  take  her  hand,  which,  however,  she 
coyishly  withdrew.  What  have  we  to  do  with  England  or  her 
cramping  ordinances,  which  we  have  turned  our  backs  upon  for 
ever  ?  Was  it  not  because  of  the  yoke  she  sought  to  put  upon 
our  necks  that  we  abandoned  her,  here  to  enjoy  a  wider  liberty  ? 
Believe  me,  beautiful  Prudence,  there  are  delights  scattered  all 
over  the  world,  if  there  be  only  boldness  and  wisdom  to  find 
them  ;  nor  is  their  enjoyment  inconsistent  with  the  joys  promised 
hereafter,  whereof,  indeed,  they  are  the  foretaste." 

"  O,  sir,"  exclaimed  the  girl,  "  can  you  tell  me  anything  about 
Philip?  Have  you  entreated  the  Governor,  as  you  promised,  to 
let  him  out  of  that  dreadful  dungeon  ?" 

"  It  is  a  horrid  place,"  said  Spikeman,  "  and  men  live  not  long 
who  are  confined  therein.  If  the  soldier  be  imprisoned  there  a 
few  days  longer,  he  is  no  better  than  a  dead  man.  Vain  has 
been  my  intercession,  though  I  despair  not." 

He  paused  to  watch  the  effect  of  what  he  had  said  upon  the 


62  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN   MELICE. 

girl.  She  turned  deadly  pale,  and  seemed  about  to  sink  upon  the 
floor.  Spikeman  took  her  hand,  which  she  no  longer  withdrew, 
but  yielded  passively,  as  if  in  a  state  of  stupefaction,  and  pressing 
it  within  his  own,  led  her  to  a  sofa. 

"Lovely  Prudence,"  he  said,  "  thou  hast  found  favor  in  my 
eyes.  Let  not  the  distance  betwixt  us  overawe  thee.  These 
worldly  distinctions  are  but  the  inventions  of  men  to  suit  a  pur 
pose,  and  there  are  times  when  they  are  more  easily  torn  away 
than  the  withes  of  the  Philistines  on  the  hands  of  Samson. 
Dost  thou  comprehend  mef 

Prudence  raised  her  eyes,  and  fixed  them  with  a  bewildered 
stare  upon  his  face.  She  was  so  terrified  at  the  thought  of  the 
danger  to  which  the  soldier  was  exposed,  and  her  mind  so  con 
fused  by  the  unusual  language  of  her  master,  that  she  was  as 
much  in  a  dreaming  as  a  waking  state.  Pier  lips  quivered  as 
she  attempted  to  reply,  but  they  made  no  sound,  and  tears 
began  to  steal  down. 

"  Would  that  I  could  stop  the  current  of  these  tears,  more 
precious  than  orient  pearls,"  sighed  Spikeman.  "Ask  of  me 
any  other  favor,  and  I  will  move  heaven  and  earth  but  it  shall 
be  granted." 

"  O,  sir,  said  Prudence,"  sliding  off  from  the  sofa  in  spite  of 
his  efforts  to  prevent  her,  and  kneeling  at  his  feet,  "  I  have -no 
other  favor  to  ask ;  but  if  you  are  truly  willing  to  show  kindness 
to  a  poor  girl  like  me,  take  Philip  out  of  prison." 

"But  is  it  so  light  a  thing  to  be  done,  sweet  Prudence ?" 
replied  Spikeman,  raising  her  in  his  arms,  and  straining  her  to 
his  bosom  before  he  replaced  her  on  the  sofa.  "  Nay,  kneel  not 
again,"  he  added,  seeing  that  she  was  about  to  resume  her 
attitude  of  supplication  ;  "  that  were  a  posture  as  fitting  for  me 
as  for  thee." 

"  O,  sir,"  cried  poor"  Prudence,  "  you  are  a  great  man,  and 
can  do  whatever  you  please.  If  you  speak  to  the  Governor 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THB   GOLDEN   MELICB.  63 

again,  he  will  let  Philip  out.  I  am  sure  he  meant  nothing 
wrong.  I  am  certain  they  told  wicked  lies  about  him." 

"  Truly  will  I  remonstrate  again,"  said  Spikeman.  "  So  great 
is  my  regard  for  thee,  I  will  risk  losing  his  favor  for  thy  sake. 
But  for  all  the  sacrifices  I  make,  what  shall  be  thy  return  to  me  *?" 

"  I  will  pray  night  and  day  for  you ;  I  will  be  your  slave ;  I 
will  worship  the  ground  on  which  you  tread." 

"  Sweet  maiden,"  said  Spikeman,  passing  his  arm  around  her 
waist,  "  I  ask  not  so  much.  I  ask  thee  only  to  be  happy  with 
me.  Thy  prayers,  though  rising  like  morning  incense,  I  need 
not.  I  would  rather  be  thy  slave  than  have  thee  mine,  and  I 
worship  thee  already.  Turn  not  away  thy  cheek,  but  let  me 
greet  thee  with  the  kiss  of  charity." 

The  girl  averted  not  her  glowing  cheek,  whereon,  with  these 
words,  he  imprinted  a  passionate  kiss,  which  he  attempted  to 
repeat,  but  Prudence  drew  a  little  back,  and  removed  his  arm. 
His  lips  burned  like  fire.  She  felt  as  if  they  had  left  behind  a 
mark  to  betray  her,  and  she  shuddered  with  aversion ;  but  she 
believed  the  fate  of  the  soldier  to  be  in  his  hands,  and  dared  not 
to  offend  him.  Besides,  she  was  no  delicate  lady,  but  strong  and 
full  of  confidence,  and  feared  no  danger  to  herself.  As  she 
marked  his  heightened  color  and  kindling  eyes,  and  he  made 
another  attempt  to  salute  her,  she  said,  with  half  a  disposition 
to  cry  and  half  to  laugh  : 

"  Is  not  kissing  and  toying  forbid  by  the  elders  and  worshipful 
magistrates'?" 

"  They  are  forbid  to  them  outside  of  the  congregation,  and 
who  have  no  Christian  liberty,"  answered  Spikeman — "  to  them 
who  make  a  display  of  what  should  be  concealed,  to  avoid  the 
scandal  of  the  wicked  ;  but  not  to  the  elect  and  discreet,  who 
can  use  their  liberty  as  not  abusing  it.  Therefore,  let  me  kiss 
thee  with  the  kisses  of  my  mouth,  for  thy  love  is  better  than 
wine.  Behold,  thou  art  fair,  my  love;  behold,  thou  art  fair," 


64:  THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

he  continued,  pressing  upon  her ;  "  thou  bast  clove's  eyes  within 
thy  locks.     Thy  lips  are  like  a  thread  cf  scarlei," 

t:  Hark  !"  cried  Prudence,  pu     hig  him  baok,  ''  I  hear  a  i 
"I    hear    no    sound,"    sai<]  •  i,    .'iff or  listening  for    a 

moment,  "save  the  voic  A.     O,   speak,  and  say 

unto  me,  'rise  up}  my  lo  me  away,  for  lo,  the  win; 

past,  the  rain  is  over  and  gone,  the  time  oT  the  f-li 
is  come,  and  the  voice  of  the  turtle  is  heard  in  our  land.'  '' 

So  saying,  he  caught  her  in  his  arms,  and  giving  license  to 
his  fiery  passions,  stamped  repeated  kisses  upon  her  lips  and 
bosom,  in  spite  of  her  struggles.  But  the  sounds  which  the 
quick  ears  of  Prudence  had  detected  became  more  and  more  dis 
tinct,  and  persons  on  foot  and  on  horseback  were  seen  in  the 
street  returning  from  the  lecture.  Without  difficulty  she  broke 
from  the  now  yielding  arms  of  Spikeman  le  to 

compose  her  disordered    hair  and  tunic, 
dame  at  the  door  was  heard  demanding  a 


CHAPTER   IV. 

"Oh,  give  me  liberty  ! 
For  were  even  Paradise  my  prison, 
Still  I  should  long  to  leap  the  crystal  walls." 

DRTDEN. 

THE  motives  which  animated  Spikeman  to  play  the  part  which 
he  did  in  the  court  that  condemned  the  soldier,  will  now  be  better 
understood.  He  had  cast  eyes  of  licentious  desive  upon  the 
blooming  Prudence,  who  was,  at  the  same  time,  beloved  by 
Philip,  and  was  solicitous  to  remove  him  out  of  the  way.  Bold 
in  all  his  plans,  neither  honoring  God  nor  fearing  man,  un 
scrupulous  in  regard  to  the  means  to  effect  a  purpose,  and 
esteeming  the  gratification  of  his  evil  wishes  the  highest  happiness, 
it  was  yet  necessary  to  the  achievement  of  his  objects  that  a 
specious  outside  at  least  should  be  preserved,  and  this  he  had 
succeeded  in  doing  up  to  the  present  time.  In  pursuance  of  his 
cunning  policy,  he  was  unwilling  that  even  Joy  should,  suspect 
him  of  unfriendliness,  and  for  that  reason  had,  in  the  course  of 
the  examination,  excited  the  temporary  vexation  of  Deputy 
Governor  Dudley,  by  an  observation  which,  to  the  unsuspecting 
Deputy,  seemed  indicative  of  a  desire  to  screen  Joy  from  punish 
ment,  and  to  Joy  himself  the  interference  of  a  frier d  ;  while,  in 
fact,  it  was  intended  to  entrap  the  prisoner  into  n  sh  speeches, 
which  would  be  prejudicial  to  his  cause.  How  effectually  he 
undeceived  Dudley,  after  Joy  had  been  removed,  we  have  seen. 

3* 


66  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

The  Assistant  had  attained  his  object.  Philip  was  in  the  first 
place  to  be  imprisoned  and  fined,  and  afterwards  banished,  and 
the  field  was  henceforth  to  be  left  free  to  himself.  With  his 
rival  out  of  the  way,  he  did  not  doubt  of  succeeding  with  the 
girl  by  means  of  such  arguments  and  temptations  as  it  would  be 
in  his  power  to  employ.  How  he  had  begun  by  endeavoring  to 
use  the  very  affection  of  Prudence  for  her  lover  to  make  her  be 
tray  herself,  has  been  told ;  but  thus  far  her  simplicity  and  good 
fortune  had  been  quite  a  match  for  his  craft.  In  the  hope  to 
obtain  some  advantage  for  Philip,  she  had  granted  the  Assistant 
the  interview  which  we  have  just  witnessed,  and  wherein  he 
disclosed  his  character  in  a  manner  he  had  never  done  to  her  be 
fore.  She  now  understood  his  designs  thoroughly,  but  the  know 
ledge  was  a  secret  which  her  fears  suggested  that  she  had  better 
lock  up  in  her  own  heart.  What  chance  would  a  poor  unpro 
tected  girl  have  in  a  contest  with  the  rich  and  powerful  Assistant1? 
Who  would  take  her  word  in  opposition  to  his  ?  Spikeman  well 
appreciated  his  advantage,  and  calculating  with  absolute  cer 
tainty  upon  her  silence,  was,  in  consequence,  the  more  auda 
cious. 

When  the  spy  of  the  Assistant  found  him  at  his  store-house, 
he  was  meditating  upon  the  approaching  interview  with  Pru 
dence,  the  contemplation  of  which  it  unpleasantly  interrupted. 
The  prospect  of  the  soldier's  liberation  was  exceeding  disagreea 
ble.  It  would  interfere  with,  and  perhaps  defeat  plans,  which  in 
blind  passion  he  hugged  to  his  heart.  But  engrossed  by  his 
unworthy  madness,  he  could  not  then  mature  any  scheme  not 
connected  with  its  immediate  gratification.  Machinations  for 
the  further  accomplishment  of  his  designs  must  be  postponed  for 
a  calmer  moment.  It  came  after  the  interruption  occasioned  by 
the  arrival  of  his  wife,  and  soon  his  active  brain  had  shaped  his 
ideas  into  definiteness. 

Accordingly  in  the  evening,  as  soon  as  it  became  so  dark  that 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.  67 

features  were  not  readily  distinguishable  in  the  streets,  the  As 
sistant  took  his  .way  to  the  prison  in  which  the  soldier  was  con 
fined.  It  stood  on  the  edge  of  the  settlement,  and  was  a  low, 
one-story  building,  strongly  made  of  unhewn  logs,  within  a  few 
feet  of  which  was  the  dwelling  of  the  jailer,  but  little  differing 
from  it  in  exterior.  In  those  days  a  very  strong  jail  was  not  so 
important  as  at  present.  If  one  had  committed  a  crime  so 
heinous  that  he  was  unfit  to  live,  he  was  forthwith  put  beyond 
the  power  of  doing  mischief;  but  if  the  offence  were  of  a  less 
atrocious  character,  modes  of  punishment  were  usually  resorted 
to  which  did  not  involve  the  necessity  of  supporting  him  at  pub 
lic  charge — such,  for  instance,  as  whipping,  cutting  off  the  ears, 
slitting  the  nose,  and  like  improvements  of  the  human  form  di 
vine.  If  through  defect  of  the  prison,  or  from  any  other  cause, 
the  offender  escaped,  it  was  pretty  certain  that  he  would  not 
make  his  appearance  in  a  hurry,  lest  some  worse  thing  might 
befall  him,  and  so  there  was  one  malcontent  the  less,  and  one 
disturber  of  the  peace  gone,  even  though  the  ends  of  punishment 
were  not  perfectly  attained. 

Spikeman,  on  reaching  the  house  of  the  jailer,  was  about  to 
knock  at  the  door,  when  his  attention  was  arrested  by  sounds 
which  made  him  pause.  The  weather  being  warm,  the  window 
was  open,  and  he  was  able  to  hear  distinctly  what  was  said 
within.  Motives  of  delicacy  or  honor  weighed  not  much  in  the 
mind  of  a  man  like  him,  and  he  scrupled  not  to  appropriate  any 
advantage  to  be  derived  from  eaves-dropping. 

"  What  made  you,  Sam  Bars,  take  all  the  ornaments  off 
Philip  but  the  bracelets,  without  saying  anything  to  me  T'  in 
quired  a  voice,  which  Spikeman  recognized  as  belonging  to  the 
jailer's  wife. 

"Why,  Margery,  to  confess,  I  forgot  to  tell  you,"  answered 
her  husband ;  "  but,"  added  he,  laughing,  "  I  had  no  fear  on  thy 
account,  for  thou  art  a  match  for  a  man  any  day." 


68  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN"   MELTCE. 

.-  Philip  ru'oi.inir  liv 
I  pitied  him,  for  lie  i~  a  prope  •  you  112  man." 

"Oh!    £ooi-l v,  the  '.-ounp:   men.      I 

warrant,  TUC  now  if  it  had  boon  a  ^, •;  wolf  like  me,  you 

woul.I  not  have  thought  so  much  of  his  ankles." 

"  Say  not  so,  Sam,"  replied  the  woman,  affectionately,  "  nor 
liken  thyself  to  a  wolf.  O,  how  they  used  to  howl  every  night 
when  we  first  came  to  this  wilderness  ;  but  the  Lord  protected  his 
people.  I  dare  say  now,  it  was  thy  kind  heart  made  thoe  take 
off  the  irons." 

"  That  it  was  not,  wife.  They  were  put  en  by  order  of  one 
I  am  bound  to  obey  ;  nor  chu:  I  take  them  off  but  by  command 
of  a  higher  authority." 

"  Why  do  yo'i  >u  were  giving  me  riddles  to 

guess  ?     Am  I  not  boiu 

"A  big  heap  of  bones  we  make  together,'''  muttered  Sam,  glanc 
ing  at  the  large  frame  of  his  wife,  not  much  excelled  by  his  own, 
"but  she's  a  good  soul,  amiss  only  in  her  tongue  at  whiles; 
howbeit,  saith  not  Paul,  it  is. an  unruly  member?  Well,  Mar 
gery,  an  tliou  must  know,  it  was  by  order  of  the  Governor's 
own  mouth  to  me  they  were  taken  off,  and  what  is  more,  I  am 
to  let  Philip  go  free  in  the  morning." 

"  Bless  his  sweet  face,"  cried  the  woman,  "  I  always  said  the 
worshipful  Governor  was  the  sweetest  and  virtuousest  and  ex- 
cellentest  man  in  the  whole  country." 

"  There  be  them  among  the  elders  and  magistrates  who  be  of 
a  different  opinion.  Beshrew  me  !  (may  the  Lord  forgive  me," 
he  added,  looking  round  in  alarm.  "  I  hope  no  one  hears  me,) 
but,  according  to  my  thinking,  it  is  only  because  Master  Win- 
throp  asks  for  no  pay,  and  spends  so  much  ouo  of  his  own  purse 
for  other  folk,  that  they  .choose  him.  Governor." 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.       69 

a  What  can  anybody  have  against  so  sweet-tempered  and 
liberal  a.  sjentlemttn  ?"  inquired  Margery. 

"Well,  then,  the  elders  complain  that  he  is  not  so  zealous, 
even  unto  playing,  as  becomes  a  leader  of  the  Lord's  host,  which 
he  is,  like  Moses  and  Joshua;  and  some  of  the  deputies  pretend 
that  he  takes  too  much  state  on  him,  and  means  to  make  him 
self  a  king,  or  least-wise,  a  lord." 

"  And  I  trow,  good  man,  I  know  no  reason  why,  when  the 
Commonwealth,  as  they  call  it,  gets  big  enough,  we  should  not 
have  a  king  as  well  as  the  folk  on  the  other  side  of  the  water. 
It  was  always  a  pleasure  to  see  his  Majesty  in  the  streets  of 
London,  with  the  grand  lords  and  ladies  all  in  their  silks  and 
satins,  and  jewels  and  feathers.  It  will  be  long,  I  am  afraid," 
sighed  the  good  woman,  "  before  we  shall  see  such  fine  sights  in 
these  woods." 

"  Hush,  goody,"  said  Sam,  "  take  care  your  tongue  do  not 
get  you  into  trouble.  Speak  lower,  an  you  will  talk  about  things 
you  know  nothing  about.  You  love  kings  and  lords  better  than 
some  folk."  he  concluded,  with  a  laugh. 

"  Take  care  of  your  own  tongue,  Sam  Bars  ;  I  warrant  you 
mine  will  take  care  of  itself.  But  wherefore  should  I  not  love 
the  king  ?  Is  it  not  written — touch  not  mine  anointed,  and  do 
my  prophets  no  harm  ?  And  I  will  let  you  know,  Sam  Bars? 
that  I  will  say  what  I  please  about  him,  God  bless  him  !  Marry, 
come  up,  a  fine  time  of  day  truly,  if  a  woman  may  not  speak 
her  mind !  I  should  like  to  see  the  man  or  woman  either,  for 
sooth,  to  stop  me.  My  tongue  and  ten  commandments  (stretch 
ing  out  her  fingers)  know  how  to  take  care  of  one  another,  I  can 
tell  you.  My  tongue  get  me  into  trouble  !  O,  Sain,  why  do  you 
aggravate  me  so?  Me,  the  quietest  and  pcaceablest  and  silentest 
wife  in  the  world !  Why  dost  not  speak  ?  Art  as  dumb  as  the 
bench  your  heavy  carcass  almost  breaks  down  1  Speak,  I  say, 
Sam,  speak,  or  I  shall  go  crazy." 


70  THE    KNIGHT   OF   THE    GOLDEN   MELICE. 

But  her  husband,  whom  long  experience  had  taught  the  best 
mode  of  weathering  such  storms,  only  shook  his  head  in  silence, 
until  the  good  woman,  after  a  variety  of  ejaculations  and  ex 
pletives,  finding  that  she  made  no  more  impression  on  him  than 
children's  pop-guns  on  a  sand-bank,  concluded  to  cool  down, 
when  she  asked  what  the  Governor  said  to  him. 

Sam,  glad  that  the  current  had  taken  another  direction, 
answered  readily  "  a  mountain  of  questions  about  Philip.  And 
he  wanted  to  know  why  I  put  so  many  irons  on  him — how  he 
found  it  out,  the  Lord  only  knows,  unless" — here  Bars  sunk  his 
voice,  so  that  the  words  were  inaudible  to  the  listener,  and^he 
lost  a  sentence  or  two — "  and  when  he  dismissed  me,  he  ordered 
that  I  should  never  do  it  again  without  his  consent,  and  then 
sent  me  into  the  kitchen,  where  I  had  a  pottle  of  sack." 

"  A  whole  pottle  of  sack  !"  exclaimed  his  wife,  in  a  tone  of 
disappointment ;  "  and  here  was  I  at  home,  as  dry  in  this  out 
landish  hot  weather  as  the  children  of  Israel  at  Rephidim, 
when  they  did  chide  Moses  because  there  was  no  water  to 
drink.  "  You  might  have  brought  your  own  Margery  a  taste," 
she  added,  reproachfully. 

"  Did  I  say  I  had  a  Avhole  pottle  ?  If  I  did,  I  spoke  only  in  a 
figure,  as  one  may  say ;  for  there  was  Ephraim  Pike  to  help  me 
make  away  with  it,  and  you  know  his  gullet  is  like  a  London 
sewer.  Love  your  bright  eyes,  Margery,  a  quart  of  sack  stands 
no  more  chance  with  Ephraim,  when  his  nose  once  gets  scent  of 
the  liquor,  or  his  lips  touch  the  edge  of  the  mug,  than  a  mouse 
among  a  dozen  cats." 

"  Or  than  it  has  with  you,  Sam.  But  men  be  all  alike  ;  they 
be  always  guzzling ;  they  never  think  of  their  poor  wives. 
Here  am  I,  Margery  Bars,  thine  own  help-meet,  never  away 
from  home  ;  never  running  about  streets  and  going  to  Governor's 
houses  to  swill  sack  ;  never" — but  here  the  voice  of  the  discon 
tented  woman,  who,  in  her  excitement,  had  risen  from  her  seat 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  71 

and  walked  away,  was  lost  in  the  pantry,  or  rather  subdued  into 
an  inarticulate  grumble  ;  and  Spikeman,  after  waiting  awhile,  and 
finding  it  improbable  that  the  conversation  would  be  resumed, 
knocked  in  a  peculiar  manner  on  the  door,  which  was  almost 
immediately  opened  by  Bars  himself. 

"Hath  the  order  for  the  soldier's  release  arrived  from  the 
Governor1?"  inquired  the  Assistant. 

"  It  hath,  worshipful  sir ;  he  is  to  be  dismissed  in  the  morning," 
answer  the  jailer. 

"Hast  said  anything  about  it  to  Joy,  as  I  requested  thee 
not  ?" 

"  He  knows  no  more  concerning  it  than  the  logs  of  his  dun 
geon,"  said  Bars. 

"  Then  get  the  keys,  and  means  to  strike  a  light." 

Without  replying,  as  one  accustomed  to  obey  such  orders,  the 
jailer  provided  himself  in  a  few  moments  with  the  articles  re 
quired.  He  placed  an  unlighted  candle  in  the  lantern,  and  the 
two  proceeded  to  the  door  of  the  jail. 

"  He  is  your  only  prisoner,  I  believe  ?"   said  Spikeman. 

"  None  other,"  answered  Bars. 

"  Remain  outside  by  the  door.  I  would  speak  a  moment  with 
him." 

The  jailer,  in  silence,  put  one  key  into  the  lock  and  opened 
the  door,  and  gave  another  to  Spikeman,  and  then  stationed  him 
self  as  directed,  outside. 

Spikeman  entered,  and  closed  the  door  after  him  ;  then  striking 
a  light,  advanced  like  one  well  acquainted  with  the  place.  The 
space  wherein  he  found  himself  was  an  entry  or  passage-way, 
some  four  feet  wide,  running  along  the  four  sides  of  the  prison, 
and  enclosing  the  cells  in  the  middle,  The  security  of  the 
prisoners  was  greatly  promoted  by  this  arrangement,  two  walls 
being  necessary  to  be  broken  in  order  to  effect  escape,  and  com 
munication  with  persons  without  being  thus  made  more  difficult. 


72  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELTCE. 

The  Assistant  advanced,  until  he  came  to  the  door  of  a  cell 
which  was  closed,  and  which  he  knew  from  that  circumstance 
was  occupied,  and  unlocking  it,  stepped  within.  He  stopped, 
and  throwing  around  the  light  from  the  lantern,  beheld  the  form 
of  the  soldier  extended  on  some  straw  spread  in  a  corner,  and 
apparently  asleep.  Philip  was  inde&l  in  a  profound  slumber. 
Relieved  from  the  painful  incumbrance  of  the  irons  which  had 
prevented  his  lying  down,  and  kept  him  consequently  in  a  con 
strained  posture,  he  was  enjoying  a  luxury  hard  to  be  realized 
except  by  one  in  a  condition  as  wretched  as  his  own.  Spikcman 
threw  the  light  full  upon  his  face,  but  it  failed  to  awaken  him. 
He  only  smiled,  and  muttering  something  indistinctly,  turned 
upon  his  pallet,  the  irons  on  his  wrists  clanking  as  he  moved. 
The  Assistant  stood  looking  at  him  awhile,  and  then  pronounced 
his  name,  at  first  in  a  low  tone,  and  afterwards  louder.  Even 
this  did  not  banish  sleep,  and  Spikeman  was  obliged  to  shake  him 
by  the  shoulder  before  he  could  be  aroused.  It  was  then  the 
soldier,  without  opening  his  eyes,  demanded,  drowsily,  what  was 
the  matter.  "  You  waked  me,  Bars,"  he  said,  "  from  such  a 
grand  dream.  I  wish  you  would  let  me  alone." 

"  Arouse  thyself  and  look  up,"  said  the  Assistant.  "  It  is  not 
the  jailer,  but  a  friend,  who  desires  thy  good." 

"  It  is  Master  Spikeman,"  said  the  soldier,  sitting  up  and  rub 
bing  his  eyes,  "  but  1  wish  you  had  not  disturbed  my  dream.  I 
thought  I  was  free  again." 

"  I  came  to  restore  to  thee  that  liberty  whereof  thou  wert 
only  dreaming." 

The  soldier,  now  thoroughly  awake,  got  upon  his  feet  as 
quickly  as  his  swollen  ankles  and  the  manacles  on  his  wrists 
would  permit. 

"  Then,"  said  Philip,  "  all  the  world  hath  not  deserted  me." 

"  Strange  that  such'  a  thought  could  enter  thy  mind.  Who 
was  it,  at  thy  trial,  when  the  fierce  Dudley  would  have  silenced 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.       73 

thee,  demanded  that  thou  shouldst  bo  heard  ?  To  whom  thinkest 
thou  is  owing  thy  release  from  thy  he; 

"I  was  blind,"  said  the  soldier,  apologetically,  "and  this 
vveary  prison  must  have  weakened  my  brain,  But  you  came  to 
free  me.  Let  us  leave  this  dismal  place." 

';  I  wish  it  were  possible  to  take  thee  with  me,  but  that  can 
not  be.  Yet  will  I  so  order  things  that  thou  rnayest  be  far  away 
and  in  safety  before  the  dawn." 

"  Show  me  the  way  ;  undo  these  handcuffs,  and  I  will  be  your 
bondman  forever.  But  wherefore,"  inquired  Joy,  as  if  some 
sudden  suspicion  sprung  up  in  his  mind,  "  do  you  take  this  trouble 
and  risk  on  my  account  ?" 

"  Do  I  not  know  that  the  villains,  thine  accusers,  lied  ?  Should 
I  not  feel  an  interest  in  a  brave  man  unjustly  condemned  by  the 
artful  Winthrop?  Have  no  suspicion  of  me,  Philip,"  said  Spike- 
man,  in  a  tone  as  if  he  were  grieved  at  the  thought. 

"  [  entreat,  your  pardon,  and  will  allow  of  none,"  answered 
the  soUier,  and  his  frank  face  abundantly  confirmed  the  truth 
of  his  declaration.  "  But  how  am  I  to  escape  f 

"  I  have  considered  many  plans,"  replied  Spikeman,  "  but  only 
one  doth  seem  capable  of  execution.  Yet  I  fear  me  much  thy 
courage  will  fail,  even  when  thou  hast  but  to  extend  thy  hand  to 
grasp  thy  freedom.  The  thing  is  not  unattended  with  peril." 

"  Doubt  not  my  courage,  nor  talk  of  peril  to  a  man  confined 
in  a  place  like  this,  when  the  chance  of  freeing  himself  is  offered. 
Try  me,  and  see  whether  heart  or  hand  fail." 

"  These  are  brave  words,  Philip,  yet  have  I  seen  them  who 
talked  as  boldly,  and  yet  flinched  at  the  decisive  moment." 

"Who  ever  dared  to  call  Philip  Joy  a  coward?"  cried  the 
soldier,  impatiently.  "  Methinks  it  is  so  long  since  I  struck  a 
blow  worthy  of  a  man,  that  I  long  to  be  doing,  if  only  to  keep 
rny  hand  in  practice." 

"  Then  listen,"  said  Spikeman,  lowering  his  voice,   and  sup- 


74       THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

posing  that  he  had  got  the  soldier  sufficiently  worked  up  and 
committed  by  his  language.  With  this  key" — taking  one  from 
his  pocket — "  will  I  unfasten  thy  manacles,  and  under  pretext  of 
unwittingly  leaving  open  the  door  of  thy  cell,  direct  the  jailer  to 
enter  and  lock  it,  when  thou,  being  a  strong  and  active  man, 
may,  on  his  entrance,  overpower  him,  and  grant  thyself  free 
passage,  and  with  five  minutes'  start,  who  is  there  could  find  thee 
in  the  woods  ?" 

But  Joy  hesitated.  "  Liberty  is  sweet,"  he  said,  "  yet  would  I 
be  loth  to  do  aught  to  harm  Bars." 

"  What  favor  owe  you  him  ?"  demanded  Spikeman.  "  Has  he 
not  evil  entreated  thee,  and  loaded  thee  with  unnecessary  and 
cruel  bands  of  iron,  till  compelled  by  me  to  remove  them  ?" 

"  I  do  suppose  he  was  acting  by  order  of  his  superiors.  In  all 
other  matters,  Sam  has  been  kind  to  me,  and  he  did  almost  weep 
when  he  placed  the  iron  bands  around  my  body.  Nay,  but  to 
lay  hand  on  him,  goes  mightily  against  my  stomach." 

"  Then  remain  to  rot,  if  you  like  it  better,  in  spite  of  all  your 
boastful  speeches,  for  the  darkness  and  damp  seem  to  have  sucked 
all  manhood  out  of  thee ;  or  shouldst  thou  survive  a  month,  to  have 
thine  ears  cropped  and  thy  back  scourged,  and  after  that — " 

"  By  all  the  devils  in  hell,"  interrupted  Joy,  "that  shall  never 
be.  Unlock  my  irons.  I  will  do  the  part  of  a  man." 

The  tempter  applied  the  key,  and  unlocking  the  gyves, 
removed  them,  and  placed  them  on  the  ground. 

"  They  are  heavy,"  he  said.  "  A  well-directed  blow  on  the 
head  would  confuse  a  man's  thoughts.  It  is  time  to  depart. 
When  thou  art  free,  Philip,  as,  if  possessing  courage,  thou  art 
sure  soon  to  be,  forget  not  the  friend  who  helped  thee  to  thy 
liberty." 

With  these  words,  the  Assistant  took  up  the  lantern,  and 
leaving  the  door  ajar  as  he  had  proposed,  proceeded  to  the  outer 
entrance.  Here  he  found  the  jailer  waiting,  who,  after  locking 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.       75 

up,  attended  him  at  his  request  a  short  distance  on  his  way 
homeward. 

"  This  Philip  Joy,"  said  the  Assistant,  as  they  walked  together, 
"is  a  malignant  and  desperate  villain.  I  did  but  visit  him  in 
order  to  get  to  the  bottom  of  certain  plots  which  I  am  well 
advised  are  hatching  against  our  Commonwealth,  whereunto  he 
is  privy,  and  which,  indeed,  he  doth  partly  confess.  Have  thou 
him  in  strict  charge,  Bars.  May  the  Lord  forgive  me,"  he  cried, 
suddenly  stopping,  "  if  I  have  not,  in  my  amazement  at  his 
venomous  audacity,  left  open  the  door  of  his  cell.  Hasten,  good 
Bars,  lest  by  means  of  some  confederate  he  escape  in  thine 
absence." 

The  jailer  turned  instantly,  as  Spikeman  had  anticipated,  and 
rapidly  retraced  his  steps.  As  for  the  Assistant  himself,  deeming 
his  presence  no  longer  necessary  or  convenient,  he  pursued  his 
way,  leaving  further  events  to  themselves. 

When  Bars  returned,  he  found  the  door  of  the  cell  open.  He 
looked  in,  and  by  the  help  of  his  lantern,  seeing  Joy  extended  on 
his  straw,  was  about  to  close  it  without  speaking,  when  the  sol 
dier  called,  and  he  stepped  into  the  dungeon. 

"  Sam  Bars,"  inquired  Joy,  "  wherefore  did  you  at  first  load 
me  with  irons,  and  afterwards  take  them  off?" 

"  It  was  by  order." 

"  And  it  was  not  of  thine  own  head  ?" 

"Truly,"  said  Sam,  "I  would  not  of  my  own  will  lay  a 
feather  on  thee,  Philip." 

"  These  be  feathers,  Sam,  heavier  than  a  loon's,"  said  the  sol 
dier,  rising  and  approaching  his  keeper.  "  And  being  a  friend, 
doubtless  it  would  please  thee  to  see  me  at  liberty  ?" 

"Assuredly,  and  that  you  will  soon  be." 

"  Thou  art  a  prophet,"  cried  Joy,  springing  upon  the  jailer ; 
and  seizing  him  with  a  powerful  grasp,  he  hurled  him  to  the 
ground,  letting  fall  at  the  same  time  the  manacles  which  he  had 


76  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

loosely  put  on  to  deceive.  "  Make  no  noise,"  lie  added,  "  and  I 
will  not  hurt  thee,  but  to-night  the  words  of  thy  prophecy  must 
be  fulfilled  ;  so  give  me  thy  key." 

The  man  thus  treated  made  no  resistance,  nor  attempted  to 
cry  out,  nor  did  he  seem  desirous  to  speak. 

"  What  art  in  amaze  about?"  said  the  soldier.  "Hast  lost 
thy  wits  with  fright  ?  I  tell  thee  I  would  not  hurt  thee,  for  all 
thy  iron  feathers." 

"  I  am  pondering,"  answered  Bars,  composedly,  "  whether  it 
were  better  to  allow  thee  to  reap  the  fruit  of  thy  folly,  or  to  give 
thee  good  counsel." 

"  Speak  quick,  man,"  said  Joy,  "  I  have  no  time  to  spend  in 
long  talks  like  sermons." 

"  Be  not  profane,  Philip  ;  but  there  is  that  in  the  pocket  of  my 
doublet,  and  which,  if  my  arms  were  loose,  I  would  give  thee, 
might  make  thee  willing  to  abide  till  morning." 

"  A  dagger,  perhaps.  Nay,  1  will  search  before  I  trust  thee." 
So  saying,  the  soldier  proceeded  to  investigate  the  other's  pockets, 
but  he  found  nothing  in  them  or  about  his  person  except  his 
keys  and  a  strip  of  paper. 

"I  see  nothing,"  he  said,  "but  thine  arms  and  a  worthless 
bit  of  paper." 

"  And  that  is  an  order  for  thy  release  on  the  morrow.  Read 
and  satisfy  thyself." 

Philip  retreated  a  few  steps,  and  still  keeping  his  attention  on 
the  jailer,  read  the  writing  with  some  difficulty  by  the  aid  of  the 
dim  light. 

"Why  told  you  me  not  this  before?"  he  demanded. 

"  Because  it  would  have  broke  your  sleep,  and  for  another 
reason.  And  now,  Philip,  will  you  ruin  yourself  and  me,  or 
will  you  remain  ?" 

"  Good  Sam,"  said  Philip,  extending  his  hand  and  raising  the 
other  up,  "  let  thou  and  I  be  sworn  friends.  There  is  some 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.       77 

mystery  behind  this  matter  which  it  behooves  us  both  to  have 
cleared  up.  Answer  me  a  question.  Did  Master  Spikeman 
know  of  that  paper  ?" 

"  Surely  he  did.     He  inquired  of  me  concerning  it." 
"  Umph !"  grunted  Philip.  "  Now  tell  again,  what  is  that  other 
reason  why  thou  didst  say  nothing  of  the  paper  to  me  before  ?" 

"  Answer  for  answer  ;  tickle  me  and  I  will  scratch  thee.     I 
will  answer  that  question  if  you  will  me  another." 
"  There  is  reason  in  thee.     I  promise." 
"Because  Master  Spikeman  commanded  me  not." 
"  And  canst  tell  why  he  wanted  to  speak  to  me  alone  ?" 
"  To  get  to  the  bottom  of  sundry  plots  wherewith  you  were 
acquainted,  and  which  you  had  partly  confessed.     And  now  it  is 
my  turn  to  ask  questions,  so  tell  me  how  gattest  thou  rid  of  the 
irons  ?" 

"  Master  Spikeman  unfastened  them." 

"  I  might  have  guessed  as  much  before,"  said  Bars,  scratching 
his  head. 

"  Hark  ye,  Sam,  that  same  canon-bal!  of  thine  which  thou 
seemest  to  take  so  great  delight  in  digging  with  thy  fingers,  would 
have  been  a  bloody  coxcomb  had  I  followed  the  advice  of  our 
friend,  Master  Spikeman." 

"  How  !"  exclaimed  the  jailer,  did  he  counsel  injury  to  me  T* 
"  Thou  hast  said.     At  any  rate,  to  my  thinking,  there  was  not 
much  difference  from  that." 

"  The  accursed  Judas!"  burst  out  the  excited  jailer  ;  "the 
blood-thirsty  Joab,  who  would  have  had  me  smitten  under  the 
fifth'rib.  Profane  Korah,  Dathan  and  Abiram,  whom  the  earth 
swallowed  up  for  their  bitterness  against  Moses,  were  children  of 
light  compared  with  this  horrid  Philistine." 

"  I  suppose  she  was  sick  at  the  stomach,  and  so  gulped  them 
down  for  bitters,  just  as  my  good  mother  used  to  give  me  worm 
wood  when  I  was  weakly  in  the  spring,"  said  Philip,  laughing. 


78  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

At  any  other  time  this  speech  would  have  drawn  down  a 
serious  remonstrance  for  its  impiety,  but  at  the  present  moment 
Sam  was  too  much  engaged  with  the  treachery  of  Spikeman  to 
bestow  upon  it  any  attention. 

"  Philip,"  he  said,  "  I  accept  thy  offer  to  be  sworn  friends. 
This  Satan,  this  Pharaoh,  this  platter  with  the  inside  unwashed, 
shall  not  have  another  chance  to  set  on  honest  men  to  murder 
one  another.  Hearken,  and  thou  shalt  have  another  secret.  It 
was  this  hell  incarnate  who  commanded  me  to  load  thee  with 
irons,  and  to  starve  thee  besides,  but  that  I  could  not  do." 

One  revelation  led  to  another,  until  the  whole  wickedness  of 
the  Assistant  was  laid  bare.  Philip  also  learned  in  addition  that 
it  was  Bars  himself  who  had  communicated  a  knowledge  of  his 
condition  to  the  knight,  by  whom  directions  had  been  left  to 
have  him  come  to  the  Mount  of  Promise  as  soon  as  he  should  be 
liberated.  Prudence,  too,  he  was  told,  had  been  at  the  prison  to 
inquire  after  him,  but  the  instructions  to  the  jailer  forbade  the 
carrying  or  delivering  of  messages,  for  which  reason  Philip  had 
hitherto  remained  ignorant  of  the  interest  betrayed  by  her. 

With  the  discovery  of  the  villainy  of  Spikeman  there  was 
mixed  up  some  comfort  for  the  soldier  in  reflecting  on  the 
affection  of  Prudence  and  the  friendship  of  the  knight ;  but  for 
the  jailer  there  was  no  such  solace.  He  dwelt  resentfully  on 
the  exposure  of  his  person  and  the  loss  of  office  which  would 
probably  have  been  the  consequence  had  Philip  escaped,  and 
meditated  schemes  of  revenge. 

When  the  jailer  took  leave,  the  soldier  stretched  himself 
again  on  the  straw,  and  in  spite  of  the  prospect  of  liberty  and 
the  scenes  he  had  just  passed  through,  was  soon  asleep. 


CHAPTER   V. 

"  Wherefore  adew,  my  owne  Herte  true, 

None  other  red  I  can  ; 
For  I  must  to  the  greene  Wode  goe, 

Alone,  a  banishyd  man." 

THE  NUT-BROWN  MAID. 

THE  uppermost  desire  in  the  heart  of  Philip  Joy  upon  being 
liberated  in  the  morning  by  the  order  which,  while  it  opened 
his  prison  door,  exonerated  him  from  no  other  part  of  his 
sentence,  was  to  see  Prudence  ;  but  his  late  experience  of  the 
wiles  of  Spikeman,  although  he  could  think  of  no  motive  for 
his  hostility,  had  taught  him  caution,  and  he  determined  to  ad 
vance  warily  to  gratify  his  wishes. 

The  occupation  of  Philip  was  that  of  a  blacksmith  and 
armorer,  in  which  capacities  he  had  been  of  some  utility  to  the 
colony.  Between  whiles,  also,  whenever  any  desperate  service 
was  required  in  order  to  strike  terror  into  the  savages,  he  had 
been  employed  in  his  military  character,  and  always  with 
credit  to  himself.  In  consequence  of  his  skill  in  his  handicraft 
and  bravery,  he  had  at  first  been  a  man  of  110  little  considera 
tion,  but  as  the  population  of  the  settlement  increased,  and  fears 
of  the  Indians  diminished,  and  blacksmiths  and  armorers  be 
came  more  numerous,  the  importance  of  the  stout  soldier 
gradually  waned.  To  this  result  contributed,  in  no  small  de- 


80  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

gree,  the  fact  that  lie  had  never  joined  the  congregation,  and 
sometimes  indulged  in  a  freedom  of  speech  on  interdicted  topics, 
which  was  unpalatable  to  those  around  him.  Hence  it  hap 
pened  that  slight  offences,  which  were  at  first  overlooked  in 
consideration  of  his  usefulness,  were  no  longer  passed  by  when 
that  usefulness  was  no  longer  prized,  and  there  were  even  some 
who  were  disposed  to  visit  him  with  punishment  for  transgres 
sions  of  the  kind,  of  years  previous.  Spikeman,  who  by  his 
wealth  and  cunning,  had  lately  succeeded  in  getting  himself 
for  the  first  time  elevated  to  the  dignity  of  an  Assistant,  had 
always  appeared  to  be  a  friend,  and  indeed  had  truly  been  so, 
until  he  sought  to  pluck  the  apple  of  discord,  the  too  fascinating 
Prudence,  out  of  the  soldier's  hand.  So  deep  was  the  impres 
sion  of  the  Assistant's  good-will  to  him,  and  so  long  had  he  been 
in  the  habit  of  regarding  the  magistrate  as  a  patron,  that  with 
out  exactly  disbelieving,  he  found  it  difficult  to  give  full  credence 
to  the  jailer's  representations.  His  mind  was  so  confused  that 
he  hardly  knew  what  to  do.  He  wanted  to  see  Prudence  before 
he  departed  for  the  knight's  r  sidence,  and  yet,  with  a  vague 
dread  of  Spikeman's  power  for  mischief,  wished  to  avoid  him. 

Meditating  upon  these  embarrassments,  Philip  mechanically 
took  his  way  in  the  direction  of  the  Assistant's  house-,  uncon 
sciously  obeying  the  hope  that  some  kind  chance  would  enable 
him  to  see  his  mistress  without  being  discovered.  With  this 
view,  and  as  if  believing  that  she  would  be  able  to  see  through 
a  disguise  impenetrable  to  others,  and  with  some  sense  of  shame 
at  having  been  confined  in  a  dungeon,  Philip  drew  his  slouched 
hat  over  his  eyes,  and  muffling  his  face  in  the  folds  of  his  short 
cloak,  walked  in  front  of  the  dwelling,  casting  frequent  glances 
at  the  windows.  It  was  in  vain,  however  ;  and  fearful  of  at 
tracting  an  attention  which  he  desired  to  shun,  he  started  at 
last  for  the  forest,  through  which  he  was  obliged  to  pass  on 
his  way  to  the  knight's  place.  Wearily  he  dragged  his  steps 


THE   KNIGHT  OF   THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  81 

along,  for  the  confinement  he  had  suffered,  and  the  irons  he  had 
worn,  had  diminished  his  strength  and  chafed  his  limbs.  Ponder 
ing  sadly  his  unfortunate  fate,  he  was  slowly  advancing,  and  had 
only  just  entered  the  wood,  when  he  was  saluted  by  a  well-known 
voice,  that  made  him  start  with  a  joyful  surprise.  It  was  that 
of  Prudence,  who  was  following  him.  She  had  seen  him  whom 
it  would  have  been  difficult  to  disguise  from  her,  pass  the  house, 
and  had  allowed  him  to  suppose  himself  undiscovered,  and  then 
pursued,  in  order  to  enjoy,  undisturbed,  a  meeting  which  she 
desired  as  much  as  he.  She  was  so  overjoyed  and  confused  at 
seeing  him  again,  that  somehow  she  stumbled  as  she  came  near, 
and  would  have  fallen  had  not  Philip  caught  her  in  his  arms — for 
which  benevolent  deed  he  rewarded  himself  with  a  couple  of 
smacks  like  the  report  of  a  pistol. 

"  Fie,  for  shame,  Philip,"  cried  Prudence,  all  in  a  glow,  and 
looking  wonderfully,  as  if  she  wanted  the  offence  repeated  ;  at  any 
rate  the  soldier  so  understood  it,  and  clasping  her  again  in  his 
arms,  refused  to  release  her  till  her  lips  had  paid  the  penalty  of 
their  sweetness.  "  Oh,  fie,"  said  she,  once  more ;  "  what  would 
folk  say  if  they  saw  theeT' 

"  There's  only  birds  or  a  chance  deer  to  see  us,"  said  Philip, 
"  and  it  can  do  them  no  harm  to  take  a  lesson,"  and  he  attempted 
to  renew  his  demonstrations  of  affection. 

"  Be  quiet  now,"  said  Prudence,  pushing  him  away.  "  I 
must  soon  hurry  back,  or  I  shall  be  missed,  and  I  want,  first,  to 
hear  all  about  thee,  and  then  I  have  something  to  say  on  my 
part." 

Thus  rebuked,  Philip  seated  himself,  with  the  maiden  by  his 
side,  on  the  trunk  of  a  fallen  tree,  and  narrated  the  circum 
stances  of  his  trial  and  condemnation,  and  the  occurrences  at 
the  prison.  Some  tears  pretty  Prudence  let  fall  over  parts  of  his 
story,  while  at  others  her  hazel  eyes  flashed  with  indignation, 

4 


82  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE. 

and  upon  its  conclusion  she  disclosed  in  turn  the  conduct  of 
Spikeman  to  herself. 

"  [  tell  thee  all,  Philip,"  said  Prudence,  "  because  thou  dost 
still  seem  to  doubt  about  the  wickedness  of  this  bad  man,  who  is 
trying  to  ruin  us  both."  She  stopped,  and  hid  her  face  in  her 
hands. 

Great  was  the  rage  of  the  soldier  at  what  he  had  heard. 

"  By  the  head  of  king  Charles,"  he  swore,  '  I  will  drive  rny 
dagger  into  his  black  heart." 

He  rose  in  anger,  as  if  about  immediately  to  put  his  threat  into 
execution,  but  the  girl  threw  her  arms  around  him  and  drew  him 
down. 

"  That  would  be  certain  death  to  thee,  Philip,"  she  said.  "  We 
must  find  other  means  to  punish  him.  Besides,  I  must  keep  thee 
safe  to  serve  my  young  mistress." 

"  Thou  art  right,  Prudence,  and  I  am  hot  and  hasty ;  but 
does  not  the  villain  deserve  the  warmest  place  in  Beelzebub's 
dominions  who  would  harm  thee?  Prudence,  thou  shalt  not 
remain  in  his  house." 

"That  will  I,"  replied  the  girl.  "Why,  who  is  to  wait  on 
my  mistress,  and  take  care  of  her  but  me  ?  If  mistress  Eveline 
were  to  hear  thy  speech,  she  would  not  be  over  obliged  to  thee, 
Master  Philip,  for  wishing  me  to  desert  her." 

"  You  misunderstand  me,  and  that  is  not  my  desire.  But  art 
not  afraid  of  the  old  villain  ?" 

"  Me  afraid  !"  exclaimed  Prudence,  contemptuously,  curling 
her  lips  ;  "  I  am  not  half  as  much  afraid  of  him  as  I  am  of 
thee."  And  as  she  uttered  the  words,  she  drew  herself  a  little 
back  from  him  on  the  log  where  they  sat. 

"  But  tell  me,  my  brave  robin  red-breast,"  said  Philip,  casting 
a  look  at  the  gay  cloak  which  she  had  thrown  around  her  person, 
and  not  seeming  to  pay  much  regard  to  the  latter  part  of  her 
answer,  "  how  am  1  to  serve  mistress  Eveline?" 


THE   KNIGHT   OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  83 

"  O,  I  know  not,  yet  I  dare  say  we  shall  be  able  to  turn  tliee 
to  some  good  purpose;  men  are  sometimes  so  useful !" 

"I  will  recollect  thy  speech,"  said  the  soldier,  laughing,  "  and 
promise  to  teach  thee,  on  a  future  occasion,  how  maidens  also 
may  be  useful.  But  hast  never  a  message  from  mistress  Eveline 
to  Master  Arundel,  should  I  chance  to  see  him,  for  he  is  often  at 
the  place  of  the  Knight  of  the  Golden  Melice,  and  it  is  my  pur 
pose  to  go  thither  to-day  ?" 

"  Young  ladies  affect  not  to  send  messages  to  thy  over  bold 
sex,"  said  Prudence,  tossing  her  head,  "  but  an'  thou  dost  see  the 
gentleman,  thou  mayest  tell  him,  as  from  me,  that  she  is  well, 
and  desires  his  prosperity." 

"  A  cold  message,  truly,  and  it  is  well  the  weather  is  warm, 
else  would  poor  Master  Arundel  be  in  danger  of  being  frozen  into 
an  icicle." 

"  A  hundred  such  messages  would  not,  I  fear,  cool  thy  hot 
blood  ;  but  Master  Miles?  is  gentle  born,  and  less  presumptuous 
than  thou  ;  thou  mayest  therefore  say,  rather  than  hurt  his 
feelings,  that  my  mistress  would  have  no  objection  to  seeing 
him." 

"What  a  buttermilk  kind  of  a  message  is  that!"  said  the 
soldier.  Dost  think  that  a  man  of  any  spirit  is  going  to  be  satis 
fied  with  an  errand  that  runs  like  a  stream  of  cold  water  down 
one's  back?  Come,  Prudence,  perk  thy  red  lips  into  more 
reasonable  and  comforting  words." 

"  Thou  art  thyself  unreasonable,  Philip.  Dost  suppose  it 
becomes  a  young  woman  to  let  her  gallant  know  all  she  thinks 
about  him u?  He  ought  to  be  ravished  to  believe  that  she  does 
not  hate  him  like  the  rest  of  them  who  wear  beards  ;  at  any  rate, 
thou  wilt  get  nothing  else  from  me." 

"  I  must  perforce,  then,  be  content,"  said  Philip,  u  since  it 
may  not  be  otherwise  ;  and  the  less  unwillingly  because  having 
had  some  experience  in  the  nature  of  women,  I  know  they  mean 


84       THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

more  than  they  say.  So  I  Avill  even  translate  thy  words  into 
thy  mistress'  intention,  and  say  she  is  dying  of  melancholy  till 
she  sees  him." 

"  Thou  wilt  be  a  false  varlet  an'  thou  dost,  and  I  will  never 
trust  thee  with  message  more.  Such  leasing  will  only  harm  thee, 
for  Master  Miles  knows  there  is  not  in  America  nor  in  dear 
old  Devonshire  a  modester  or  properer  young  lady.  O  dear, 
how  glad  I  should  be  just  to  step  into  the  grand  cathedral  in 
sweet  Exeter,  and  see  the  brave  knights  who  died  so  long  ago 
all  lying  cross-legged,  so  decent  on  their  marble  tombs  by  the 
sides  of  their  ladies." 

"  Take  care,  my  little  Puritan,"  said  Philip,  "  this  is  no  fitting 
country  for  such  talk.  ^The  reverend  elders  have  long  ears,  and 
for  aught  I  know,  there  may  be  one  in  the  tree  overhead 
listening." 

Prudence  jumped  hastily  from  her  seat,  and  cast  a  frightened 
glance  at  these  words  into  the  tree,  while  Philip  burst  into  a 
laugh. 

"  Why,  how  you  scared  me,"  said  the  girl,  recovering  from  her 
trepidation.  "  This  is  the  way  you  treat  me,  you  vile  man,  for 
putting  myself  to.  all  this  trouble  on  your  account.  But  I  would 
have  you  to  know  that  I  am  no  more  a  Puritan,  Philip  Joy, 
than  thyself,  if  I  do  wear  a  close-fitting  cap,  which  is  none  of  the 
most  becoming  either.  If  I  do  give  into  their  ways,  it  is  for  the 
sake  of  my  mistress,  whom  no  Geneva  cloak,  nor  bishop's  sleeves, 
for  that  matter,  shall  make  me  desert." 

"Bravo,  bravissimo,  as  the  outlandish  fellows  say,"  exclaimed 
the  soldier ;  "  thou  art  of  the  genuine  game  breed,  Prudence, 
and  were  it  not  that  thy  pretty  person  might  come  to  harm,  I 
would  desire  no  better  front  rank  man  than  thee.  But  this  is  a 
dangerous  litany,  and  I  beseech  thee,  dear  Prudence,  to  remem 
ber  how  thou  art  named." 

He  said  this  in  a  tone  of  emotion,   which,  if  anything  were 


THE   KNIGHT   OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  85 

wanting,  would  have  been  sufficient  to  convince  the  girl  of  the 
interest  he  felt  for  her  ;  but  she  needed  no  such  supplementary 
proof.  It  had  the  effect,  however,  of  making  the  conversation 
assume  a  more  serious  aspect,  and  the  girl  more  gravely  replied : 

"  I  will  be  careful,  Philip,  for  my  mistress'  sake  and  mine 
own,  and — " 

"  And  for  mine,  too,"  interrupted  the  soldier. 

"  Ajjp.  for  the  sake  of  all  them,"  continued  Prudence,  "  who 
find  anything  in  me  to  take  an  interest  in.  O,  Philip,  I 
tremble  lest  you  should  do  or  say  something  again  that  these 
dreadful  solemn  folk,  who  look  sour  enough  to  curdle  milk,  and 
hate  you  because  you  laugh,  may  get  hold  of  to  do  you  an  injury. 
O,  Philip,  pray  be  prudent  about  laughing." 

"  Nay,  Prudence,"  said  he,  drawing  his  illustration  from  what 
he  happened  to  see  at  the  moment,  "  you  might  as  well  bid  yon 
squirrel  not  to  jump  from  bough  to  bough.  It  is  our  nature, 
and  you  cannot  change  a  squirrel  into  an  owl,  or  a  man  into  a 
block.  But,"  he  continued,  taking  her  hand,  "  I  have  not  told 
thee  all.  I  know  not  when  I  shall  see  thee  again,  for  I  am  a 
banished  man." 

"Banished!"  repeated  Prudence,  turning  pale;  "I  thought 
they  had  already  wronged  thee  enough  for  a  few  innocent  words — 
and  now  banished !  What  will  become  of  thee,  Philip,  and  of 
me?" 

"  Never  fear,  sweetheart ;  we  will  turn  their  flank  yet.  I 
have  been  thinking,  as  I  came  wandering  along,  that  this  Master 
Spikeman,  who  keeps  mistress  Eveline  as  a  sort  of  prisoner  on 
parole,  has  an  object  in  getting  me  out  of  his  way,  so  as  better  to 
carry  on  his  wicked  plans.  My  jealous  pate  at  first  could  think 
only  of  thee  ;  but  now  I  begin  to  fancy  he  may  have  designs  upon 
pretty  mistress  Eveline  as  well  as  upon  thyself.  Nay,  never 
bite  your  sweet  lips  till  they  bleed,  nor  dart  the  sparks  out  of 
thine  eyes,  or  you  may  singe  my  doublet.  I  do  suspect  this  from 


86  THE   KNIGHT   OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

the  equal  desire  he  hath  shown  to  remove  Master  Miles  Arundel 
from  the  colony.  He  did  threaten  him,  as  I  have  heard,  with 
some  law  they  have  here  forbidding  a  man  to  pay  his  court  to  a 
maid  without  license  from  the  worshipful  magistrates." 

"  Did  ever  mortal  hear  the  like  !"  exclaimed  Prudence.  u  O, 
the  weary  magistrates  and  elders!  what  is  the  world  coming  to?" 

"'To  nothing  but  Indians  in  these  parts,  if  they  go  on  in  this 
way,  and  not  let  young  folk  court,  unless  they  keep  sending 
people  from  England  to  replenish  the  stock,  and  they  will  get 
tired  of  coming  when  they  hear  how  things  are  going  on.  But, 
Prudence,  banish  or  no  banish,  law  or  no  law,  they  shall  not,  if 
thou  art  agreed,  prevent  my  seeing  thee." 

The  girl  looked  affectionately  at  her  lover,  and  gently  returned 
the  pressure  of  his  hand. 

"  I  will  hie  me  to  the  knight,"  continued  Philip.  "  I  happened 
once  to  be  of  use  to  him,  and  he  is  not  a  man  to  forget  a  favor, 
though  he  is  somewhat  changed  since  the  time  I  first  saw  him. 
He  was  then  a  fiery  youth,  for  all  he  can  look  so  grave  at  times 
now.  He  hath  some  credit,  for  it  was  by  his  intercession  with 
the  Governor  that  my  imprisonment  was  shortened.  I  will  hie 
me  to  him,  and  hear  what  he  advises,  more  especially  as  he  hath 
sent  for  me.  And  I  bethink  me,  Prudence,  it  were  no  bad  tiling, 
if  he  can  do  so  much,  to  get  him  to  speak  a  word  for  mistress 
Eveline." 

"  An'  thou  couldest,  it  were  a  good  deed,  and  heaven  will 
reward  thee  therefor." 

"  I  will  look  to  thee,  instead  of  heaven,  for  my  reward,"  said 
the  soldier.  "  Meanwhile  do  thou  have  thine  eyes  like  those  in 
a  peacock's  tail,  all  around  thee,  for  this  Master  Spikeman  is 
cunninger  than  all  the  foxes  whose  tails  Samson  tied  together." 

"  Trust  me,  Philip,  and  be  thou  discreet.  And  now  must  1 
be  going  back,  for  I  would  not  abuse  the  liberty  the  kind  heart 
of  dame  Spikeman  gives  me  by  loitering  too  long  ;  so  good-bye." 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.       87 

"  And  is  this  the  way  you  take  leave,  when  perhaps  you  may 
not  see  me  again  for  a  month"?  Not  one  salute?" 

"  Methinks  thou  hast  been  firing  salutes  enough  already  to 
welcome  a  ship  from  England.  Be  content,  Sir  Malapert,  with 
their  discharges  ;"  and  Prudence  began  tripping  it  away. 

"  I'll  not  be  content  with  such  a  discharge,"  muttered  the 
soldier ;  then  raising  his  voice,  he  called  after  her,  "  Prudence, 
Prudence,  hasten  not  away  so  fast ;  there  is  one  thing  I  forgot." 

The  girl  at  the  sound  of  his  voice  retraced  her  steps  a  little, 
and  met  Philip. 

"  Harkee  in  thine  ear,"  said  he,  "  for  I  must  speak  low.  I  did 
omit  to  put  my  seal  to  our  covenant ;"  and  before  Prudence  was 
aware,  he  had  imprinted  a  smack  upon  her  cheek. 

"  And  there  is  mine,"  cried  Prudence,  hitting  him  a  box  upon 
the  ear,  "  and  I  warrant  it  will  be  as  red  as  thine,"  and  with 
that  she  bounded  like  a  deer  away. 

p  v  "  The  foul  fiend  fly  away  with  me,  an'  I  love  not  the  girl 
dearly,"  exclaimed  the  soldier,  looking  after  her  with  admiring 
eyes,  as  like  a  red- winged  butterfly  she  flew  through  the  green 
bushes.  "  If  I  ever  have  the  luck  to  get  her,  I  shall  have  a 
dame  strong  enough  to  carry  her  part  of  our  bundle.  Well,  go 
thy  ways,  Prudence  Rix,  for  as  comely,  and  as  sweet-breathed, 
and  as  kind  a  lass,  notwithstanding  the  weight  of  thy  hand,  as 
ever  milked  a  cow  in  the  old  country." 

The  frame  of  mind  in  which  the  soldier  now  pursued  his  walk 
was  very  different  from  that  in  which  it  had  commenced.  The 
dampness  of  the  prison  which  had  begun  to  affect  his  health 
was  forgotten,  as  the  genial  sun  gradually  dried  the  clamminess 
out  of  his  clothing,  and  he  inspired  the  reviving  morning  air.  It 
seemed  to  him  he  could  not  drink  deep  enough  draughts  of  the 
woodland  scents,  which  flowed  so  deliciously  through  his  lungs, 
as  almost  to  compensate  for  the  suffering  which  he  had  endured. 
His  unexpected  interview  with  Prudence,  after  he  had  given  up 


88  THE   KNIGHT   OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

all  expectation  of  it,  conduced  also  to  impart  vivacity  to  his 
spirits,  and  he  advanced,  not  with  a  rapid  pace,  for  of  that  his 
treatment  in  the  jail  had  made  him  incapable,  but  cheerfully  and 
resolutely. 

It  was  perhaps  an  hour  afterwards,  when  Philip,  as  he  was 
walking  slowly  on,  heard  the  sounds  of  a  person  coming  after 
'him,  and  looking  round,  he  beheld  the  man  whom  of  all  the 
world  he  least  desired  to  see.  The  whole  temper  of  his  spirit 
was  at  once  changed.  The  peace  which,  like  a  stream  of  per 
fumes,  had  been  flowing  into  his  soul,  was  checked,  and  the  at 
mosphere  became  hot  and  suffocating  around  him.  It  was 
Spikeman  approaching,  who  was  on  his  way  to  a  plantation  he 
had  in  the  neighborhood,  for  there  were  few  things  promising 
profit  to  which  the  adventurous  speculator  had  not  directed  his 
attention. 

Philip  strove  to  keep  the  horns  of  the  rising  devil  out  of  his 
heart,  and  averting  his  head,  stepped  on  one  side  to  allow  the 
o  ther  to  pass.  Spikeman  noticed  the  desire, — for  it  was  too 
m  arked  not  to  be  observed  ;  and  in  a  new  country,  even  strangers 
are  not  in  the  habit  of  passing  one  another  without  greeting, — 
but  he  paid  no  attention  to  it ;  and  as  he  came  up,  laid  his  hand 
on  Philip's  shoulder,  and  bade  him  a  good  morning. 

The  soldier  started  as  though  pierced  by  a  thorn,  and  shaking 
off  the  hand  roughly,  requested  the  Assistant  to  go  on  his  way 
and  leave  him  to  himself. 

"How  now,"  exclaimed  Spikeman.  "Methinks  this  is  cold 
welcome  for  a  friend." 

"  Pass  on  thy  way,"  said  the  soldier.  "  I  desire  not  thy  com 
pany." 

"Verily,  am  I  amazed,"  said  Spikeman.  "Surely,  to  con 
fer  a  favor  on  the  unthankful,  is  like  pouring  water  on  sand." 

"  I  do  advise  thee,  Master  Spikeman,"  said  Philip,  "  to  cease 
thine  abuse.  I  am  no  longer  a  fool  stumbling  along  with  his 
eyes  blinded." 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  89 

The  curiosity  of  the  Assistant  had  been  aroused  at  the  be 
ginning,  and  he  determined  to  ascertain  how  far  Philip's  know 
ledge  of  his  conduct  extended,  for  his  guilty  conscience  whispered 
that  some  discovery  of  the  soldier  occasioned  the  changed  be 
havior.  It  might  be  caused  only  by  suspicion,  and  if  so,'  he 
trusted  by  his  ingenuity  to  dispel  it ;  but  if  he  had  been  betrayed, 
it  was  important  that  he  should  know  it.  The  Assistant,  more 
over,  was  curious  to  learn  from  the  soldier  himself,  why  he  had 
not  broken  jail  as  advised.  He  concluded  that  the  soldier  had 
not ;  for  had  he  done  so,  the  escape  would  probably  have  been 
known  by  morning ;  yet  was  Spikeman  confident  that  Philip  at 
the  time  of  their  interview  in  the  jail  had  no  knowledge  of  the 
order  for  his  release.  Perhaps  Bars  had  overcome  in  the  strug 
gle,  and  disregarded  it.  With  doubts  like  these  floating  through 
his  mind,  he  began  to  probe  Philip. 

"  What  ails  thee  ?"  he  inquired.  "  It  would  seem  as  if  you 
took  me  for  an  enemy,  and  yet  have  I  not  always  approved  my 
self  thy  friend,  even  jeopardizing  my  position  as  a  magistrate  no 
longer  ago  than  yesternight  to  release  thee  from  jail  ?" 

"  Master  Spikeman,"  answered  Philip,  "  thou  dost  well  know, 
I  doubt  not,  that  I  am  at  liberty,  not  because  I  did  by  thy  ad 
vice  knock  out  the  brains  of  harmless  Sam  Bars,  but  by  the  grace 
of  the  Governor's  order." 

"  I  counselled  no  more  violence  than  was  necessary  to  effect 
thy  purpose  ;  but  who  moved  the  Governor  in  thy  case  1" 

"  Not  thou,  as  I  am  well  advised,  but  the  noble  Knight  of 
the  Golden  Melice,  a  man  as  much  superior  to  thee,  as  I  am  to 
an  Indian." 

"  Thou  art  mad  and  vituperative,  Philip,  and  were  it  not  so 
early,  I  should  think  thou  hacUt  been  indulging  too  liberally  in 
drafts  of  aqua  vitoe.  It  is  a  vile  habit.  But  as  the  Archangel 
Michael  returned  not  a  railing  accusation,  but  said,  the  Lord 
rebuke  thee,  Satan,  so  say  I  unto  thee.  Truly,  I  comprehend 

4* 


90       THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

thy  game.  Thou  art  weary  of  thy  old  friends,  and  being  de 
sirous  to  propitiate  new,  dost  seek  a  quarrel  to  mask  thine  in 
gratitude.  But  see  whether  this  famous  knight  prove  not  a 
broken  reed." 

The  soldier,  in  spite  of  his  conviction  of  the  villainy  of  the 
other,  was  touched  at  the  taunt,  and  hastened  to  defend  him 
self. 

"  It  is  false,  Master  Spikeman,"  he  cried.  "  If  thou  wert 
truly  a  friend,  wherefore  advise  me  to  break  jail,  and  thus  ex 
pose  myself  to  be  hunted  as  a  malefactor,  when  I  had  but  to 
wait  till  morning  for  deliverance?" 

"  It  is  much,  Philip  Joy,  for  one  in  my  condition  to  conde 
scend  to  explain,  especially  after  thy  rudeness  of  speech  ;  yet 
will  I  do  it,  that  no  fancied  cause  may  be  left  for  thy  base  sus 
picions.  Shortly,  then,  I  knew  not  of  Gov.  Winthrop's  inten 
tion,  for  when  I  did  entreat  him  in  thy  behalf,  he  spake  in  such 
ambiguous  phrase  as  effectually  to  cloak  his  thoughts.  I  doubt 
not,  now,  that  it  was  to  make  the  surprise  the  more  agreeable.' ' 

This  was  said  with  such  an  appearance  of  innocence,  that  the 
simplicity  of  the  soldier  was  confounded,  and  he  began  to  doubt 
more  and  more  the  truth  of  his  suspicions.  But  the  communica 
tion  of  Prudence  rankled  in  his  mind,  and  though  disposed  to 
acquit  the  Assistant  of  treachery  against  himself,  he  could  not 
forgive  the  treatment  of  the  girl.  He  did  not  doubt  her  word, 
and  yet  desired  to  hear  the  Assistant's  excuse,  if  he  had  any, 
He  shrunk  from  the  subject,  and  yet  was  drawn  to  it,  like  a 
moth  fascinated  by  a  light. 

"  There  is  another  thing  I  like  not,"  he  said,  hesitatingly. 

"  And  pray,  what  may  thy  wisdom  have  discovered  now  ?" 

"  That  it  is  not  becoming  in  a  grave  magistrate  to  try  to 
cozen  servant  girls,"  burst  from  the  soldier. 

"  Has  Prudence ?"  but  here  the  Assistant,  sensible  that 

he  had  already  said  too  much,  suddenly  checked  himself,  while 


THE    KNIGHT   OF   THE   GOLDEN    MELICE.  91 

his  sallow  clieek  looked  still  more  yellow.  But  the  escape  of 
the  girl's  name,  even  without  the  embarrassment,  was  a  con 
fession  of  guilt  to  the  soldier,  who,  with  rising  passion,  ex 
claimed — 

"  Away,  or  I  shall  be  tempted  to  do  that  whereof  I  may  re 
pent/' 

Spikeman  marked  his  agitation,  and  hesitated  whether  to  come 
to  an  open  breach,  or  continue  his  system  of  deception.  The 
craft  of  his  nature  preponderated,  and  he  determined  to  adopt 
the  latter  course. 

"  Gently,  Philip,"  he  said.  "  Thy  prison  hath  strangely  affected 
thee ;  but  because  I  pity,  I  will  not  be  angry.  At  least  let  me 
finish  the  sentence  which  I  begun.  I  did  desire  to  know  whether 
Prudence,  whom,  that  thou  dost  affect,  I  have  for  some  time 
known,  (nay,  never  blush  ;  I  have  been  young  myself,)  whether 
Prudence,  I  say,  gained  access  to  thy  prison  to  tell  thee  of  my 
exertions  in  thy  behalf?" 

"Thou  exert  thyself  for  me!  Go  to,  thou  wert  more  busy  for 
thyself." 

"  I  understand  thee  not ;  yet  hearken,  for  the  whole  truth 
must  be  revealed.  I  say  that  I  have  done  all  that  man  could 
do,  and  as  the  event  proves,  not  in  vain.  As  for  Prudence,  I 
will  confess  to  one  impropriety,  if  it  be  thy  pleasure  to  call  it  so, 
though  I  meant  it  not,  and  whereof  thou  art  in  some  sense 
the  cause.  Knowing  thy  regard  for  her,  I  did  speak  one  day  of 
my  hopes  for  thee,  whereat  the  tears  did  stand  in  her  eyes,  and 
I  was  so  moved  thereat,  that  I  did  salute  her  cheek,  but  only  as 
a  father  might  caress  a  child." 

The  soldier  was  more  bewildered  than  ever.  He  was  inca 
pable  of  conceiving  of  such  falsehood  as  the  other's.  It  seemed 
to  him  now  that  Prudence  might  be  mistaken,  and  have  con 
verted  a  mere  compliment  into  an  insult,  so  contrary  appeared 
the  intimations  which  she  had  made  to  what  was  to  be  expected 


92  THE   KNIGHT   OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE. 

from  the  years  and  gravity  of  the  Assistant.  The  freedom  with 
which  Spikeman  spoke  of  kissing  the  girl  confirmed  the  idea, 
and  Philip  fancied  that  he  had  been  harsh. 

"  Master  Spikeman,"  he  said  at  length,  "  if  I  have  unjustly 
suspected  thee,  I  crave  pardon.  There  may  be  something  in 
what  you  said,  that  the  prison  hath  clouded  my  mind." 

"  Think  no  more  of  it,  Philip,  though  doubtless  it  is  so.  I 
have  known  many  a  one  who,  by  confinement,  hath  irretrievably 
lost  his  wits.  Therefore  will  it  be  wise  in  thee  not  to  be  ar 
rested  again." 

"  Wherefore  arrested,  since  I  have  an  order  of  release  1 

"  Alas,  thou  dost  forget  thy  banishment.  If  thou  art  taken 
within  the  forbidden  boundaries,  severe  will  be  thy  punishment. 
Attempt  not  for  Prudence's  sake,  or  any  cause,  to  return  without 
apprising  me  thereof,  when  I  will  endeavor  to  provide  for  thy 
safety." 

The  soldier  extended  his  hand. 

"  This  is  kind,"  he  said,  "  and  be  assured,  Master  Spikeman, 
that  I  will  not  soon  conceive  suspicion  of  thee  again."  These 
women  be  notional  things,  he  murmured  to  himself. 

Spikeman  took  the  hand. 

"  Now  this  is  like  thyself,  Philip,"  he  said — " a  brave  soldier — 
true  as  a  Toledo  blade — one  who  loves  his  friend,  and  hates  his 
enemy,  although  this  latter  part  should  not  be  so.  Thou  aYt 
journeying,  I  see,  to  the  knight's  place.  Mayst  thou  find  in  him 
a  patron,  but  it  will  do  no  harm  to  say — be  on  thy  guard ;  one 
old  friend  is  better  than  a  dozen  new." 

Pie  turned  away,  and  the  soldier,  as  he  looked  after  him, 
said — 

"  There  is  truth  in  thy  words,  but  thou  art  ignorant  that  the 
knight  and  I  were  friends  long  before  I  knew  thee." 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Nature  I  court  in  her  sequestered  haunts, 
By  mountain,  meadow,  streamlet,  grove  or  cell, 

Where  the  poised  lark  his  evening  ditty  chaunts, 
And  Health,  and  Peace,  and  Contemplation  dwell. 

SMOLLETT. 

So  LONG  had  the  soldier  been  delayed  by  his  interviews  with 
Prudence  and  the  Assistant,  that  it  was  not  until  past  noon  that 
he  reached  the  knight's  residence.  It  was  a  large,  irregularly 
built  log-cabin,  or  cottage,  covered  with  thatch,  resembling  some 
what,  except  in  the  last  particular,  and  in  being  larger,  the 
log- cabins  one  meets  in  the  new  settlements  of  the  West,  with  a 
sort  of  piazza  or  porch,  which  seemed  to  have  been  lately  built, 
running  across  the  front.  Such  was  the  rude  exterior ;  though 
the  interior,  as  we  shall  presently  see,  when  we  enter  the  build 
ing,  was  furnished  in  a  style  indicating  both  wealth  and  refine 
ment. 

The  house  stood  near  the  bottom  of  a  hill,  upon  a  piece  of 
cleared  land  of  perhaps  half  a  dozen  acres,  upon  which  not  the 
vestige  of  a  stump  was  to  be  seen.  The  ground  sloped  gently 
away  from  the  building  to  the  southeast,  until  it  met  a  small 
stream,  which  meandered  at  the  base  of  the  hill,  and  running 
in  an  easterly  direction,  was  lost  to  sight  in  the  forest.  In  front 
of  the  house,  at  the  distance  of  a  rod,  bubbled  up  a  bright 
spring,  which,  dashing  down  the  declivity,  fell  into  the  first- 


94      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

mentioned  stream.  Except  this  cultivated  spot,  which  had  been 
an  old  corn-field  of  the  natives,  selected  by  them  for  the  fertility 
of  the  soil,  its  advantage  of  water,  and  the  favorable  slope  of  the 
land,  which  enabled  it  to  engross  more  than  a  common  share  of 
the  genial  heat  of  the  sun,  and  expedite  the  maturing  of  its  har 
vests,  all  was  one  unbroken  extent  of  forest.  In  the  soft  au 
tumnal  days,  when  the  maize  leaves  rustled  yellow  on  their 
stalks,  it  must  have  looked  to  the  soaring  eagle,  gazing  from  his 
"  pride  of  place,"  like  a  vast  nest  in  a  green  leafy  frame. 

Around  this  building,  at  some  little  distance,  viz.,  at  the  edge 
of  the  encircling  forest,  were  scattered  some  four  or  five  wig 
wams,  or  Indian  lodges,  made  of  the  bark  of  trees,  from  some  of 
which  smoke  curled  lazily  up  into  the  blue  sky,  imparting  assu 
rance  thereby  of  their  being  inhabited,  though  the  presence  of 
some  naked  children  near  the  entrances,  who  were  shooting  with 
little  bows  at  marks,  and  amusing  themselves  in  other  ways, 
made  any  such  indication  unnecessary. 

As  the  soldier  drew  near,  he  heard  more  and  more  distinctly 
musical  sounds,  and  presently  could  distinguish  the  tinkling  of  a 
guitar,  accompanied  by  a  female  voice.  He  stopped  and  listened. 
The  air  was  slow  and  solemn,  the  notes  were  soft  and  clear,  and 
the  words  sweet,  but  not  English.  There  was  a  rich  luxu 
riance,  yet  pathos  in  the  music,  like  the  utterances  of  a  spirit 
whose  hopes  were  mingled  with  reminiscences  of  joys  which  it 
had  lost.  How  long  Philip  listened,  he  knew  not,  so  entranced 
was  he  by  the  sounds.  It  was  a  long  time  since  he  had  heard 
such  delicious  strains,  and  the  effect  upon  him  was  therefore  the 
greater.  Suddenly  they  ceased,  as  if  his  approach  had  been  dis 
covered,  and  immediately  thereafter,  a  man  stepped  out  upon 
the  piazza.  Philip  recognized  him  at  once  as  the  young  man  to 
whom  Prudence  had  sent  a  message,  and  whom  he  himself  had 
called  Master  Arundel. 

He  was  a  fair-haired  youth  of  some  twenty-three  or  four 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN"  MELICE.  95 

years,  with  that  clear,  bright  complexion  so  common  amono;  the 
English,  and  which  they  owe  to  their  foggy  climate  and  habit  of 
exercise  in  the  open  air.  Dark  blue  eyes  looked  out  joyously 
from  a  handsome  face,  which  would  have  been  effeminate,  so 
delicate  were  the  features  and  rosy  the  tint  of  the  cheeks,  but 
for  a  brown  moustache,  which  shaded  the  lip,  and  redeemed  it 
from  the  imputation.  His  doublet  and  hose  were  of  a  dark 
green  cloth,  as  was  also  the  cap  he  held  in  his  hand,  and  he 
wore  boots  made  of  yellow  leather,  reaching  abova  the  knee,  and 
full  at  the  top.  Around  his  neck  was  a  white  band,  like  those 
worn  by  the  wealthier  colonists.  This  young  gentleman  first 
spoke. 

"  Ha !  Achilles,  or  Coeur  de  Lion  from  captivity,"  or  to  fashion 
my  speech  more  into  the  humor  of  this  new  world,  "  O,  Daniel 
from  the  lion's  den,  greatly  doth  my  heart  rejoice  at  thy  de 
liverance."  "Welcome,  good  Philip,"  he  added,  in  a  more  na 
tural  tone,  betraying  some  sympathy,  and  taking  him  at  the 
same  time  by  the  hand ;  "  welcome  to  your  friends." 

The  tired  soldier  sank  down  upon  a  bench  before  he  was  able 
to  speak. 

"  Thy  tongue  is  dry,  and  moves  slowly,  and,  now  that  I  re 
gard  thee  more  closely,  art  pale.  We  must  cheer  up  thy  droop 
ing  spirit  " 

"  Having  thus  spoken,  the  young  man  entered  the  house,  and 
presently  returned  with  a  flagon  and  drinking  cups. 

"  Drink,  man,"  said  Arundel,  filling  a  cup  with  wine,  "  and 
wash  all  sorrow  out  of  thine  heart.  The  suns  that  ripened  the 
grapes  out  of  which  this  juice  was  crushed,  were  bright  and 
joyous.  May  they  impart  their  own  happiness  and  vigor  unto 
thee." 

The  soldier  put  the  cup  to  his  lips,  nor  withdrew  it  until  the 
contents  were  drained. 

"  I  feel,"  he  said,  "  the  good  wine  tingling  through  all  my 
veins,  and  am  a  new  man  again." 


96       THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

"  Fill  once  more,"  said  the  young  man,  suiting  the  action  to 
the  word ;  "  one  shower  is  not  enough  for  so  thirsty  a  soiL" 

The  soldier  did  not  refuse,  and  having  drank  a  second  time, 
he  felt  refreshed. 

"Pleasant  enough  quarters,  Master  Arundel,"  he  said,  look 
ing  around ;  "  and  I  see  ye  have  some  red-skins  camped  near 
by." 

"They  are  the  knight's  particular  friends,  whose  society  it 
seems  to  be  his  sovereign  pleasure  to  cultivate.  He  has  per 
suaded  them  to  gather  round  him,  forming  what  may  be  called 
his  body-guard." 

"  Or  outposts  of  the  main  garrison.  Well,  for  runners  or 
scouts  they  may  answer,  but  for  hand-to-hand  action,  they  are 
naught.  But  where  is  Sir  Christopher  ?" 

"  He  started  on  a  hunt  this  morning,  our  larder  having  run 
low.  Hark !"  he  added,  as  suddenly  the  blast  of  a  bugle  was 
heard  echoing  through  the  forest,  "  that  is  the  sound  wherewith 
he  is  accustomed  to  announce  his  approach,  and  you  will  present 
ly  see  him  coming  out  of  the  wood." 

Sure  enough,  in  a  few  moments  the  tall  form  of  the  knight, 
arrayed  in  a  deer-skin  hunting-shirt,  with  leggins  of  the  same 
material,  and  ''  a  piece"  in  his  hand,  was  seen  emerging  into  the 
open  space.  He  was  followed  by  a  couple  of  Indians,  each  of 
whom  bore  on  his  shoulders  a  deer. 

"  Quecheco,"  the  two  white  men  heard  him  say,  as  he  came  out 
of  the  bushes,  "  carry  thou  thy  deer  to  my  lodge,  and  do  thou, 
Pococke,  divide  thine  with  thy  brother  Quecheco."  After 
speaking  these  words,  he  advanced  toward  them. 

"  So,  ho,  Philip,"  cried  Sir  Christopher,  "  again  under  my 
banner.  Fate  hath  decreed  us  I  think  for  buenas  camaradas,  and 
for  my  part  I  heartily  rejoice  thereat.  A  braver  heart  than  thine 
never  beat  under  steel  corselet,  or  truer  hand  wielded  a  sharp 
sword." 


THE   KNIGHT    OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  97 

"I  thank  you,  Sir  Christopher,  for  your  good  opinion,"  said 
the  soldier,  "  but  I  have  seen  little  service  since  we  parted 
among  the  Turbans,  of  whom  somehow  your  wine  sets  me  a 
thinking,  at  all  to  my  mind.  As  for  fighting  these  naked  savages, 
who  have  nothing  but  children's  bows  and  stone  hatchets,  while 
our  men-at-arms  are  clad  in  bullet-proof  steel  from  head  to  heel, 
methinks  there  is  little  manhood  required  therefor,  and  for  what 
I  have  done  in  that  way,  I  confess  myself  somewhat  ashamed." 

"  It  doth  please  me  to  hear  thee  speak  thus,  Philip,"  replied 
the  knight/  True  valor  is  ever  joined  with  generosity,  and 
despises  to  take  advantage  of  superior  strength  to  crush  the 
weaker.  But  fear  not  that  I  have  any  service  of  the  kind  for 
thee.  I  came  not  among  these  innocent  natives  to  bring  a  sword, 
but  the  olive  branch  of  peace.  I  would  see  them  peaceful,  and 
united,  and  happy,  not  broken  into  hostile  clans,  and  delighting 
in  murdering  one  another." 

"  I  spoke  not,"  said  the  soldier,  "  as  desiring  to  make  terms 
with  you,  Sir  Christopher,  well  knowing  that  you  would  ask 
nothing  which  an  honest  man  would  be  unwilling  to  perform, 
and  am  only  too  happy  to  enter  your  service." 

"  So  be  it,  Philip,"  said  the  knight.  "  Henceforth  be  here  thy 
home." 

"  Truly,"  exclaimed  the  soldier,  stretching  out  his  legs  with  a 
sigh  of  relief,  "  there  is  some  difference  between  lying  in  a  prison, 
or  even  talking  with  Master  Spikeman  in  the  bushes,  as  I  did  but 
just  now,  and  being  with  good  wine  and  noble  gentlemen." 

"  Didst  meet  on  thy  way  that  most  puritanical  of  Puritans,  the 
praying,  cheating,  canting,  hypocritical,  long-faced  Master  Spike 
man  V  cried  Arundel.  "  I  wonder  what  new  mischief  he  hath 
now  on  foot,  for  it  is  his  meat  ?" 

"  Master  Miles  Arundel,"  said  the  knight,  "  thy  language  is 
too  intemperate  to  be  excused  even  by  thy  youth.  Check  the 
bitterness  of  thine  expression,  and  know  that  he  who  rules  his 
own  spirit  is  greater  than  he  who  wins  a  kingdom." 


98  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

A  flash  of  haughty  resentment  lighted  up  the  eyes  of  the  young 
man  at  the  reproof,  but  as  he  saw  that  no  offence  was  designed, 
he  answered : 

"  I  expect  never  to  win  a  kingdom,  but  as  for  this  villain — " 

"  Peace,  I  entreat  thee,  my  young  friend,"  interrupted 
Sir  Christopher.  "  I  am  curious  to  hear  of  Philip's  treatment 
in  his  confinement,  if  he  will  favor  us  with  an  account  thereof?" 

Hereupon  the  soldier  recounted  to  them  all  that  had  passed  in 
his  prison,  including  his  interview  with  Spikeman,  and  attack  on 
the  jailer,  and  also  the  conversation  in  the  wood,  except  those 
parts  which  had  relation  to  Prudence. 

"  I  see  not,"  said  Arundel,  upon  the  conclusion  of  the  nar 
rative,  "  why  the  wily  Assistant  should  be  thine  enemy,  but  he 
clearly  is.  Thou  art  honored  in  this  respect  as  well  as  I." 

"  My  mind  doth  misgive  me  that  you  are  right,"  said  Philip. 
"  Away  from  him.  He  seems  an  arch  villain,  though  in  his  presence 
the  feeling  changes,  for  he  hath  a  tongue  to  wile  a  bird  from  the 
bough." 

"  Be  sure  I  am  not  mistaken.  See  now  whether  Sir  Christo 
pher  be  not  of  the  same  opinion." 

Thus  appealed  to,  the  knight  answered  : 

"  I  fear  that  your  judgment,  Master  Arundel,  is  correct, 
though  caring  not  to  enter  into  the  reasons  which  have  forced 
me  to  this  conclusion.  But  we  will  endeavor  to  use  such  caution 
that  any  mischievous  designs  of  his  shall  be  defeated.  Happily 
my  homestead  is  not  comprised  within  the  limits  of  the  colony, 
and  the  sentence  of  banishment  is  complied  with,  Philip  being 
here." 

Hereupon  Sir  Christopher  rose  and  entered  the  house,  and  the 
soldier  took  advantage  of  his  absence  to  deliver  the  message  of 
Prudence,  which,  as  he  had  threatened,  he  colored  a  little. 
With  all  his  efforts  he  was  unable  to  conceal  the  interest  which 
he  felt  for  the  girl,  but  the  young  man  good  naturedly  allowed 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  99 

him  to  suppose  it  unnoticed.     In  a   short  time  the  knight  re 
appeared,  and  invited  them  in  to  dinner. 

The  apartment  which  they  entered  opened  immediately  upon 
the  porch,  and  was  a  room  some  twenty  feet  square,  constituting 
somewhat  more  than  a  quarter  of  the  building.  The  walls  were 
merely  unhewn  logs,  divested  of  the  bark,  and  filled  in  with  a 
tenacious  clay  resembling  mortar.  Against  them  were  nailed,  or 
supported  by  wooden  pegs,  in  divers  places,  branching  horns  of 
the  moose  and  deer,  over  which  were  hung  hunting-shirts  and 
skins  of  various  wild  animals,  tanned  with  the  hair  on.  The 
antlers  also,  in  many  instances,  supported  guns,  and  swords,  and 
hunting  pouches,  and  powder-horns,  and,  in  short,  whatever 
might  be  necessary  for  attack  or  defence  in  war,  and  success  in 
the  chase.  In  the  centre  of  the  room  a  table  for  four  or  five 
persons  was  set,  and  a  squaw  was  busy  near  a  fire  preparing  the 
meal. 

It  was  not  long  before  the  simple  dinner,  consisting  principally 
of  venison  steaks  and  bread  made  of  Indian  corn,  was  placed 
by  the  squaw  on  the  board,  and  the  three  men  drew  up,  Philip 
manifesting  some  modest  reluctance,  until  pressed  thereto  by 
the  knight. 

"  The  vain  distinctions  of  the  world,"  said  Sir  Christopher, 
"  are  out  of  place  here.  My  soul  sickens  at  the  servile  respect 
paid  to  stars  and  garters.  The  jewel  of  the  spirit  is  to  be 
prized,  not  by  the  setting,  but  by  the  degree  of  its  own  splendor 
it  darts  around." 

Nor  simple  though  the  dinner  was,  were  there  wanting  draughts 
of  wine  like  that  of  which  the  soldier  had  drank  upon  his 
arrival.  Of  the  three,  he  drank  the  most  freely ;  Arundel 
moderately,  and  the  knight  almost  abstemiously.  As  the  last 
regarded  the  pale  face  of  Philip,  and  marked  the  kindling 
lustre  of  his  eyes,  he  pardoned  the  poor  fellow,  in  consideration 
of  what  he  had  endured,  the  freedom  of  his  libations. 


100  THE   KNIGHT   OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  meal,  Arundel,  turning  to  the 
knight,  said : 

"  Philip  has  brought  me  word,  Sir  Christopher,  which  will 
necessitate  the  abridgment  of  a  visit  I  did  intend  should  be 
longer.  My  purpose  is  to  return  to  Boston  in  the  morning." 

"  May  a  friend  inquire  after  the  cause  of  your  sudden  de 
parture  ?"  asked  the  knight. 

"  It  hath  some  connection,"  answered  the  young  man,  slightly 
blushing,  "  with  a  matter  wherewith  you  are  already  acquainted. 
I  know  not  why  I  should  hesitate  to  aver  before  yourself  and 
Philip  that  it  hath  reference  to  mistress  Eveline  Dunning." 

"  Fear  not  to  speak  the  honest  impulses  of  thine  heart,  Master 
Arundel,"  said  the  knight,  "nor  deem  that  I  can  take  amiss 
thy  preference  of  the  starry  eyes  of  pretty  mistress  Eveline  to 
a  hermitage  in  the  wood." 

"She  desires  to  see  me,"  returned  the  young  man,  "and  I 
hold  it  a  sacred  duty  to  watch  over  her,  for  she  is  a  lamb  in 
the  jaws  of  a  lion." 

"  My  opinion  of  the  worshipful  Master  Spikeman,"  said  the 
knight,  "  is  not  much  more  favorable  than  thine  own,  though 
mine  eyes  be  not  blinded  by  the  deceitful  mists  of  passion.  Be 
wary,  however,  else  mayest  thou  incur  an  enmity  which  it  were 
well  to  avoid." 

"  What  wouldest  have  me  do,  Sir  Christopher?"  demanded 
the  young  man,  rising  with  some  impatience.  "  Detains  he  not 
my  affianced  bride?  Refuses  he  not  even  to  allow  me  to  see 
her,  and  must  not  our  meetings  be  stolen?  Does  he  not  deny 
the  solemn  obligation  he  took  upon  himself  by  the  death- bed 
of  his  too  confiding  friend,  to  unite  Eveline  with  me  in  mar 
riage,  and  is  he  not  thereby  a  perjured  wretch,  regardless  alike 
of  his  vow  to  God  and  of  duty  to  the  dead  and  living  ?  I  care 
not  for  his  enmity,  but  prefer  it  to  his  friendship,  nor  will  I 
tamely  permit  him  to  triumph  in  his  villainy." 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  10  L 

"  Calm  thyself,  Master  Arundel,"  said  the  knight ;  "  truly  I 
counselled  no  such  thing.  My  heart  is  with  thee,  and  my  hand 
at  thy  service  in  this  matter,  for  I  esteem  thee  wronged,  but 
neither  violence  of  speech  nor  precipitancy  in  action  will  avail 
to  right  thee.  All  means  of  persuasion  are  not  exhausted. 
Why  not  endeavor  to  interest  Governor  Winthrop  in  thy  be 
half?" 

"To  what  purpose?  Suppose  you  he  would  take  my  word 
in  opposition  to  that  of  a  fellow  saint  and  magistrate  f 

"  Unjust !  Master  Arundel ;  degrade  not  the  noble  Winthrop, 
a  pattern  of  many  Christian  virtues,  and  some  knightly  qualities, 
by  such  association.  But  to  thy  word  would  be  superadded 
that  of  the  young  lady.  He  must  believe  her." 

"  Nay,  Sir  Christopher,  your  eagle  glance  at  once  detects  false 
hood  wherewith  it  has  no  affinity,  and  you  judge  of  others  ac 
cording  to  the  standard  of  your  own  nobleness,  but  I  am  per 
suaded  the  attempt  would  be  in  vain.  The  case  stands  thus : 
there  is  really  but  witness  against  witness,  for  what  know  I  of 
what  occurred  at  the  death-bed  of  Eveline's  father,  except  what 
she  herself  has  told  me "?  Kind  though  may  be  the  heart  of 
the  Governor,  and  sound  his  judgment,  the  false  asseveration  of 
the  Assistant  would  outweigh  the  declaration  of  Eveline ;  and, 
did  it  not,  and  were  he  ever  so  favorably  disposed,  no  court  in 
this  New  Canaan,  as  they  call  it,  would  decide  against  one  of  the 
congregation  iri  favor  of  an  orphan  girl  not  protected  by  their 
magic  covenant,  and  whose  hand  is  sought  by  an  intruder  into 
their  fold." 

"  I  deny  not  the  force  of  thine  argument,"  replied  the  knight, 
"  and  yet  have  I  remarked  an  omnipotence  in  truth,  that  doth 
make  me  insist  on  having  recourse  to  Governor  Winthrop.  As 
is  the  God-like  sun,  animating  and  vivifying  all  things,  searching 
into  dark  recesses  and  driving  out  bats  and  impure  vermin  by 
his  intolerable  presence,  and  unveiling  ugliness  and  hatefulness, 


102      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  ME  LICE". 

so  is  Truth.     Withersoever  she  turns  her  shinino1  mirror  there 

O 

Error  may  not  abide,  but  like  a  dastardly  coward,  flies  from  the 
glory.  Believe,  Master  Arundel,  that  He  who  is  uncreated, 
Truth  will  magnify  that  wherein  He  delights." 

"  To  pleasure  thee,  Sir  Christopher,  there  is  nothing  which  I 
would  not  undertake,  convinced  though  I  am  of  its  inefficacy." 

"  So  please  you  then,  represent  your  grievance  in  the  highest 
quarter,  before  you  further  proceed.  And  now,  I  propose  to 
present  Philip  to  Lady  Geraldine,  if  her  leisure  serve.  You  will 
accompany  us.'' 

Passing  through  a  vestibule,  which  separated  the  two  rooms, 
the  knight  threw  open  a  door,  and  admitted  them  into  an  apart- 
mant  of  smaller  dimensions  than  the  first,  but  fitted  up  with  far 
more  regard  to  comfort,  and  with  even  some  pretension  to  ele 
gance.  The  floor  was  covered  with  matting  made  by  the  Indian 
women,  on  which  strange  figures  were  drawn,  stained  with  bril 
liant  dyes ;  the  sides  of  the  room  also  were  hung  with  matting, 
over  which  fell  folds  of  scarlet  cloth  reaching  to  within  a  couple 
of  feet  of  the  floor,  imparting  an  air  of  gayety,  while  overhead 
was  tightly  drawn  and  fastened  to  the  rafters  a  light  blue  cloth, 
approaching  in  color  the  hue  of  the  sky.  Some  chairs*  were 
scattered  around,  and  on  a  table  lay  a  guitar,  on  the  top  of  a 
book.  No  person  was  in  the  apartment  at  the  moment  of  their 
entrance,  and,  upon  the  invitation  of  the  knight,  they  took  seats 
to  await  the  arrival  of  the  lady. 

They  had  been  seated  but  a  short  time  when  another  door 
opened,  and  a  comely  gentlewoman  entered,  ushered  by  a  little 
Indian  girl.  The  age  of  the  lady  appeared  to  be  about  the  same 
as  that  of  the  knight,  and,  to  judge  from  her  complexion,  she  was 
not  of  English  extraction.  Her  features,  though  not  regular, 
were  handsome ;  the  eyes  large  and  black,  with  hair  of  the  same 
color,  confined  by  a  white  cap ;  her  figure  was  tall  and  slender, 
and  her  carriage  dignified  and  noble.  Her  dress  consisted  merely 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.   '          103 

of  a  black  gown,  without  ornament,  and  rising  high  into  the  neck, 
and  as  she  approached  she  looked  like  one  oppressed  with  sad 
ness. 

Her  little  swarthy  attendant  seemed  to  be  a  pet  which  she  took 
delight  in  adorning,  and  truly,  the  little  girl  was  not  unconscious 
that  her  childish  beauty  was  enhanced  by  richness  of  attire.  A 
crimson  satin  tunic,  like  a  basque,  was  fastened  around  her  waist 
by  a  golden  band,  beneath  which  fell  a  blue  silk  skirt  as  far  as 
the  knees,  while  high  upon  the  ankles  were  laced  deer-skin  bus 
kins,  profusely  bedecked  with  shining  beads  and  colored  porcu 
pine  quills.  Around  her  arms,  above  the  elbows,  were  strings  of 
colored  beads,  her  wrists  were  clasped  by  bracelets  of  the  same 
description,  and  about  her  neck  was  twined  a  gold  chain. 

As  the  lady  thus  attended  advanced,  all  rose  to  pay  the  respect 
due  to  her  sex  and  station. 

"  Behold,  Lady  Geraldine,"  said  the  knight,  presenting  to  her 
the  soldier,  "  the  valiant  man  to  whom  I  once  owed  my  life." 

"He  is  very  welcome,"  replied  the  lady,  in  an  accent  just  for 
eign  enough  to  impart  a  strange  interest  to  her  speech.  "  The 
savior  of  my  cousin's  life  is  very  welcome." 

The  ^embarrassed  soldier,  confounded  at  the  presence  of  one 
who  looked  to  him  like  a  superior  being,  could  find  no  words  to 
return  to  her  greeting,  and  only  bowed  low  to  conceal  his  confu 
sion. 

"  I  have  heard,  Sir  Christopher,"  she  continued,  "  speak  of  the 
daring  feat  of  arms  whereby  he  was  rescued  from  the  foe,  and 
longed  to  behold  his  valorous  deliverer  to  return  my  soul-felt 
thanks.  Be  seated,  most  welcome  gentlemen.  And  thou,  Mas 
ter  Arundel,  I  trust,  hast  received  intelligence  from  Boston  which 
will  chase  away  the  cloud  that  sometimes  gathers  on  thy  brow." 

"  Honored  madam,"  answered  the  young  man,  in  the  inflated 
style  of  gallantry  which  the  custom  of  high-bred  society  not  only 
permitted  but  enjoined,  "  when  the  beautiful  majesty  of  the  heav- 


104  THE   KNIGHT   OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

enly  sun  appears,  clouds  have  no  place  above  the  horizon,  but  fly 
away,  chased  by  his  golden  shafts." 

"  Would  that  I  had  the  power,"  said  the  lady,  u  as  the  benefi 
cent  sun  dispels  the  clouds,  so  to  drive  away  all  sorrow  and  dis 
appointment.  There  is  no  grief-laden  heart  that  should  not  be 
cheered." 

"  Recount  now,  Philip,  to  Lady  Geraldine,  the  adventure  which 
causes  the  colony  to  lose  a  valiant  soldier,  and  me  to  gain  for  our 
solitude  an  old  friend  and  companion  in  arms,"  said  the  knight. 

The  soldier,  upon  being  thus  addressed,  found  his  voice,  and 
narrated  to  the  lady  the  circumstances  of  his  enforced  departure 
from  Boston.  She  listened  with  an  appearance  of  interest,  and 
upon  its  conclusion  spoke  a  few  words  expressive  of  her  sorrow 
for  his  imprisonment,  and  of  congratulation  for  the  knight,  to 
whom  she  hoped  he  would  be  for  the  future  attached. 

"  I  do  begin  to  consider  my  banishment  as  no  misfortune,"  said 
the  soldier,  whose  confidence  in  himself  was  now  restored.  "  The 
labor  of  my  forge  and  exposure  of  life  for  folk  who  know  not  how 
to  excuse  a  hasty  word  or  two,  are  well  exchanged  for  the  service 
of  so  noble  a  master  and  mistress." 

"  Be  sure,  thou  shalt  not  rust  like  a  sheathed  sword,"  said  the 
knight,  "  and  it  shall  go  hard,  but  I  will  find  for  thee  employ 
ment  to  content  an  undegenerate  spirit.  But,  Lady  Geraldine, 
while  we  gain  one  to  our  company,  we  lose  (only  for  a  short  time, 
I  hope)  another.  Master  Arundel  purposes  to  leave  our  solitude 
to-morrow." 

The  lady  looked  inquiringly  at  the  young  man,  who  answered 
with  a  blush : 

"  A  message  brought  by  Philip  doth  constrain  my  departure." 

"  A  sweet  constraint,"  said  the  knight,  smiling.  "  Fear  not, 
Master  Arundel,  that  Lady  Geraldine  will  blame  thee  for  obey 
ing  an  impulse  as  natural  as  the  love  of  a  bee  for  a  flower.  The 
diamond  eyes  of  Mistress  Eveline  would  furnish  apology  for  a 
deeper  crime." 


THE   KNIGHT   OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  105 

"I  trust  all  is  well  with  sweet  Mistress  Eveline,"  said  the 
lady. 

"  All  well,  may  it  please  you,  madam,  save  for  the  injurious 
durance  which,  in  despite  of  his  promise,  and  regardless  of  all 
honor  as  a  man,  the  villain  Spikeman,  who  calls  himself  her  guar 
dian,  imposes  on  her." 

"He  will  relent,"  said  the  lady.  "It  may  be  he  desires  only 
to  try  the  strength  of  thy  devotion.  The  flame  of  thy  love  will 
burn  the  brighter  for  the  trial." 

"  I  have  no  hope  of  such  result,"  said  Arundel.  "  He  is  so 
closely  wedded  to  evil,  that  to  do  a  good  action  would  be  to  him 
a  pain." 

"Nay,"  said  the  lady,  "it  cannot  be  there  is  a  creature  who 
loves  evil  for  its  own  sake.  That  were  quite  to  extinguish  the 
heavenly  spark.  Judge  not  unhappy  Master  Spikeman  so  harsh 
ly.  Commend  me  to  the  love  of  Mistress  Eveline,"  she  added, 
rising,  "  when  you  see  her,  and  say  that  I  wear  her  sweet  image 
in  my  heart." 

So  saying,  she  bowed  and  left  the  apartment,  preceded  by  the 
little  girl,  the  others  rising,  and  remaining  standing  as  long  as  she 
was  in  sight. 


CHAPTER    VII. 

Thinkest  thou  that  I  could  bear  to  part 
From  thee  and  learn  to  halve  my  heart  ? 
Years  have  not  seen,  time  shall  not  see, 
The  hour  that  tears  my  soul  from  thee. 

BRIDE  OP  ABYDOS. 

IT  was  early  on  the  morning  of  the  next  day  when  Arundel 
started  on  his  way  to  Boston,  whither  the  message  delivered  by 
the  soldier  had  somewhat  hastened  his  return.  There  was,  indeed, 
to  one  not  in  love,  nothing  in  it  to  require  such  haste,  and  the 
explanation  of  his  departure  is  to  be  found  only  in  the  natural 
desire  of  a  lover  to  be  near  his  mistress.  Something  might  hap 
pen  ;  he  would  seek  an  occasion  to  see  her  ;  perhaps  a  plan  might 
be  devised ;  at  least,  his  wishes  could  not  be  promoted  by  keep 
ing  himself  at  a  distance.  While  the  young  man,  musing  on 
sweet  hopes  and  vague  unformed  designs,  is  threading  his  way 
through  the  forest,  we  will  take  advantage  of  the  opportunity  to 
explain  in  a  few  words  what  the  reader,  as  yet,  only  imperfectly 
suspects. 

Two  years  previous  to  the  time  when  our  story  commences, 
Edmund  Dunning,  a  landholder  and  gentleman  of  consideration, 
in  the  county  of  Devon,  in  England,  having  recently  adopted  the 
creed  and  practice  of  the  Puritans,  (as  a  sect  dissenting  from  the 
Church  of  England,  somewhat  in  doctrine,  and  wholly  in  outward 
observances,  was  called ;  from  asserting,  as  it  was  thought,  pre- 


108      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

tentions  to  superior  purity  of  belief  and  strictness  of  living,)  left 
the  shores  of  his  native  island  with  an  only  child,  a  daughter, 
then  between  seventeen  and  eighteen  years  of  age,  to  seek  that 
freedom  for  his  faith  in  the  new  world,  which,  as  he  conceived, 
was  denied  him  in  the  old.  His  whole  family  consisted  of  this 
daughter,  Eveline,  his  wife  having  deceased  several  years  previ 
ously.  Plis  departure  was  hastened  by  a  circumstance  which  had 
for  some  time  occasioned  him  no  little  uneasiness,  and  the  evil 
consequences  of  which  he  could  think  of  no  other  means  so  ef 
fectually  to  avoid.  This  circumstance  was  an  intimacy  between 
the  beautiful  Eveline  and  a  young  gentleman  in  the  neighboring 
town  more  tender  than  the  father  approved,  who  looked  upon  the 
hopes  of  the  suitor  as  presumptuous,  and  was,  besides,  opposed 
to  an  union,  on  account  of  a  diversity  of  religious  sentiment  be 
twixt  himself  and  the  aspirant. 

This  young  man  was  Miles  Arundel.  A  year  before  -  Master 
Dunning  and  his  daughter  left  England,  he  had  come  to  the  town 
of  Exeter,  near  to  which  the  Dunnings  lived  on  their  estate,  and 
opened  a  studio  as  a  landscape  painter.  It  was  not,  however, 
until  a  month  after  his  arrival,  that  he  seemed  at  all  decided 
as  to  his  intentions,  the  time  being  spent  in  wandering  over  the 
beautiful  country,  and  making  occasionally  a  sketch ;  nor  after 
he  had  offered  his  services  to  the  public  in  a  professional  ca 
pacity  did  he  work  very  diligently.  Yet  was  it  remarked  that 
he  was  never  in  want  of  money ;  and  the  citizens  of  Exeter 
thought  that  he  must  get  high  prices  for  his  pictures  in  London 
to  warrant  his  expenditure. 

Among  the  families  to  which  he  was  introduced  as  an  artist, 
was  that  of  Edmund  Dunning.  Eveline  was  no  indifferent 
sketcher  herself,  and  accompanied  her  father  one  day  on  a  visit 
to  the  rooms  of  Master  Arundel.  It  is  said  that  the  young 
people  blushed  at  the  meeting,  but  however  that  may  be,  the 
blush  was  unobserved  by  Master  Dunning. 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  109 

So  agreeable  did  the  young  artist  make  himself,  that  one  visit 
led  on  to  another,  and  he  was  invited  to  the  house  of  Dunning, 
and  soon  found  himself,  he  hardly  knew  how,  on  a  familiar  footing 
in  his  family,  and  giving  lessons  in  painting  to  his  daughter. 
Edmund  Dunning  had  no  intentions  that  any  other  lessons  should 
be  given,  and  it  accordingly  grieved  him  when  he  discovered  the 
terms  on  which  the  young  people  stood  to  one  another,  and 
which  their  ingenuousness  could  not  conceal.  With  this  relation 
he  had  made  himself  acquainted  as  soon  as  he  suspected  it,  by 
inquiring  of  Eveline,  who  frankly  told  him  the  whole  truth. 
Arundel  loved  her,  but  dared  not,  on  account  of  the  distance 
that  separated  him  from  her  father,  make  known  his  feelings. 
The  father  demanded  of  his  child  why  she  did  not,  at  the  be 
ginning,  check  such  aspiring  thoughts,  and  whether  it  was  proper 
to  allow  of  the  continuance  of  such  a  state  of  things.  Poor 
Eveline  could  only  reply  with  tears,  and  that  she  could  not  pre 
vent  Miles  loving  her,  but  confessed  that  she  had  done  wrong, 
and  promised  to  break  off  the  intimacy. 

"  I  am  unacquainted  with  his  family,  which  is  probably  ob 
scure,"  said  Edmund  Dunning;  "but  were  the  blood  of  Alfred 
in  his  veins,  he  should  have  no  daughter  of  mine  so  long  as  he 
ikvors  the  persecuting  Church  of  England,  which  I  know  he 
does,  notwithstanding  his  constant  attendance  at  the  meetings  of 
the  congregation,  the  reason  whereof  I  now  understand." 

The  promise  which  Eveline  made  to  her  father  she  kept,  nor 
from  that  moment  would  she  consent  to  see  Arundel.  He 
pleaded  hard  for  a  single  interview,  if  only  to  take  leave,  and 
though  her  heart  strongly  took  his  part,  she  replied  that  she 
would  not  increase  the  reproaches  of  her  conscience  by  advancing 
a  step  further  in  an  intimacy  which  she  had  wrongly  concealed 
from  her  father,  and  was  disapproved  by  him.  All  intercourse 
between  the  lovers  ceased  from  this  time,  and  shortly  after 
Arundel  disappeared  from  the  neighborhood. 


110  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

But  it  was  at  the  risk  of  her  health  that  Eveline  obeyed  her 
parent.  The  rounded  form  began  to  become  thin ;  the  cheeks, 
in  which  red  roses  were  accustomed  to  bloom,  faded,  and  the 
lovely  blue  eyes  lost  their  lustre.  The  anxious  father  noticed 
these  signs  with  apprehension,  and  in  the  hope  that  new  scenes 
and  a  change  of  climate  might  improve  his  daughter's  health, 
hastened  their  departure. 

Almost  immediately  on  his  arrival  in  the  new  world  he  formed 
an  acquaintance  with  Spikeman,  who  used  every  effort  to  in 
gratiate  himself  into  his  confidence.  So  successful  was  Spike 
man,  that  he  persuaded  Master  Dunning  to  embark  a  con 
siderable  portion  of  his  property  in  the  business  wherein  Spike 
man  was  engaged,  and  on  the  death  of  Dunning,  which  happened 
only  six  months  thereafter,  to  appoint  him  the  guardian  of 
Eveline.  But  as  the  shadows  of  this  world  were  settling  on  the 
eyelids  of  the  dying  man,  the  light  of  another  and  a  better 
dawned  upon  his  mind.  The  differences  of  opinion  which  had 
separated  him  from  the  friends  of  his  youth  and  manhood,  and  the 
distinctions  of  rank,  assumed  less  and  less  importance.  He  re 
garded  with  pity  the  sadness  of  his  daughter,  and  determined 
that  he  would  be  no  obstacle  in  the  way  of  her  happiness.  He 
called  her  and  his  friend  to  his  bed-side,  and  after  kissing  her 
pale  cheek,  gave  his  full  consent  to  her  union  with  Arundel, 
and  made  Spikeman  promise  to  favor  her  wishes  in  all  things. 
Having  thus  settled  his  worldly  affairs,  Edmund  Dunning  turned 
his  face  to  the  wall  and  gave  up  the  ghost. 

The  tears  of  Eveline,  left  an  orphan  far  away  from  the  only 
spot  which  she  considered  her  home,  flowed  bitterly  at  the  loss 
of  her  father.  He  had  been  a  gentle  and  sweet-tempered  man, 
and  an  indulgent  parent,  and  she  thought  of  him  with  a  grief 
and  yearning  affection,  the  pain  of  which  the  removal  of  the 
interdiction  to  her  marriage  with  one  whom  she  loved,  served  at 
first,  but  in  a  slight  degree,  to  mitigate.  But  time  had  its  usual 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  Ill 

effect.  The  swollen  eyes  of  poor  Eveline  at  last  resumed  their 
brightness ;  the  color  returned  to  her  cheeks ;  her  step  became 
lighter,  and  she  looked  forward  wish  pleasure  to  the  time  when 
she  should  give  her  hand  to  one  who  already  had  her  heart. 

But  Spikeman  was  far  from  sympathizing  with  her  views,  nor 
had  he  any  intention  to  keep  his  promise.  At  the  time  when 
he  inveigled  Edmund  Dunning  into  entrusting  property  to  his 
hands,  his  aifairs  were  in  an  embarrassed  condition,  and  he 
needed  then  and  now  the  funds  to  save  him  from  ruin.  And 
again,  hypocrite  though  he  was  in  some  respects,  he  was  not 
altogether  so.  A  man  of  violent  passions,  and  unscrupulous  in 
their  gratification,  deluding  himself  with  the  idea  that  having 
once  tasted  the  sweets  of  justification,  (as  he  fancied,)  his  con 
dition  was  one  of  safety,  and  that  the  sins  which  reigned  in  the 
members  of  his  body  could  not  reach  his  soul,  he  was  yet  zealous 
for  the  faith  which  he  had  adopted,  and  devoted  to  the  interests 
of  the  colony.  It  was  to  this  devotion  mainly  that  he  owed  his 
dignity  of  Assistant.  As  a  Puritan,  he  was,  or  at  least  believed 
himself  to  be,  opposed  to  a  marriage  between  Eveline  and 
Arundel  on  the  same  principle  which  had  at  first  influenced  her 
father,  and  been  corrected  only  by  the  dawning  light  of  eternity. 
Shortly  before  the  decease  of  his  friend,  Spikeman  had  fre 
quently,  though  never  in  the  presence  of  Eveline,  combated 
Dunning' s  resolution  with  which  he  had  been  made  acquainted, 
but  in  vain.  Had  he  dared,  he  would  have  resorted  to  one  or 
more  of  the  elders  to  exert  their  potent  influence,  but  this  would 
have  been  to  betray  the  secret,  and  in  case  of  their  failure,  might 
have  placed  himself  in  an  unpleasant  predicament.  He  concluded 
it  was  better  to  lock  it  up  in  his  own  breast,  and  so  remain  master 
of  his  actions  and  of  her  destiny,  at  least  till  her  majority,  which 
lacked  two  years  before  attainment.  During  that  time,  his  cir 
cumstances  might  change — she  might  decease — no  one  knew  what 
was  in  the  future. 


112  THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

It  is  not,  therefore,  surprising  that  the  Assistant  did  not  write 
to  England  to  inform  Edmund  Dunning's  relatives  of  his  death  ; 
much  less  that  he  did  not  inform  Arundet  of  the  fact.  Months 
slowly  dragged  by,  and  yet  the  expecting  girl  received  no  word 
from  home.  At  first  Spikeman  accounted  for  it  by  the  length  of 
time  required  to  make  the  passage  between  the  countries;  after 
wards  by  the  supposition  that  the  letters  might  have  failed,  or  in 
timating  that  Arundel  had  probably  changed  his  mind.  A  cold 
pang,  as  if  she  had  been  stabbed  by  an  icicle,  pierced  the  bosom 
of  Eveline  at  this  cruel  suggestion,  and  she  felt  utterly  desolate. 
What,  however,  frightened  and  depressed  her  spirit,  only  roused 
the  indignation  of  Prudence  Rix,  her  attendant  from  England, 
who  even  then  had  a  sharper  insight  into  the  character  of  the 
Assistant  than  her  mistress. 

"Hey-day!"  she  exclaimed;  " to  think  that  Master  Miles,  the 
handsomest  and  darlingest  young  gentleman  in  Devonshire,  and 
who,  if  he  was  only  a  painter,  looked  grander  and  gave  away 
more  gold  pieces  than  many  a  lord  she'd  known,  and  who  wor 
shipped  Mistress  Eveline  like  some  pagans  she'd  heard  of  did  the 
sun,  should  think  of  forgetting  her  !  It  was  precious  nonsense. 
For  her  part,  if  she  was  Mistress  Eveline,  she  would  write  to 
him  herself,  without  letting  old  vinegar-face  know  anything 
about  it." 

The  advice  was  not  thrown  away  on  the  young  lady,  though 
with  an  instinctive  delicacy  she  did  not  follow  it  literally. 
Instead  of  addressing  Arundel  directly,  she  wrote  to  a  female 
friend,  and  communicated  the  change  in  her  circumstances,  and 
the  relenting  of  her  deceased  father,  rightly  judging  that  the  in 
formation  would  not  long  remain  unknown  to  her  lover.  She  did 
this  without  the  knowledge  of  Spikeman,  else  it  is  probable  that 
the  letter  would  never  have  reached  its  destination.  The  event 
answered  her  expectations,  and  with  the  arrival  of  the  first  ship 
after  her  epistle  was  received,  she  had  the  gratification  of  greeting 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE 'GOLDEN  MELICE.      113 

Arundel.  But  what  was  her  astonishment,  when,  upon  the  de 
mand  of  the  young  man  that  her  guardian  should  carry  into 
effect  the  wishes  of  his  deceased  friend,  Spikeman  denied  that 
any  obligation  was  imposed  upon  him.  He  would  not  admit  that 
there  had  been  any  change  of  opinion  in  the  dying  man,  but 
insisted,  on  the  contrary,  that  he  had  remained  steadfast  in  his 
purpose  to  the  last.  He  affected  surprise  at  the  declarations  of 
Eveline,  and  while  not  pretending  to  say  what  might  have  taken 
place  in  his  absence,  persisted  in  asserting  that  nothing  of  the 
kind  had  occurred  in  his  presence.  The  young  lady  was  surely 
in  error.  The  bewilderment  occasioned  by  excessive  grief  on 
account  of  her  father's  condition,  and  partiality  for  her  lover,  had 
caused  her  to  mistake  the  meaning  of  the  former.  He  could  not, 
however  much  desirous  to  please  his  ward,  violate  the  instruc 
tions  of  his  deceased  friend. 

The  remonstrances  of  Arundel,  and  gentle  expostulations  and 
entreaties  of  Eveline,  were  without  effect ;  and  when  once  the 
young  man,  in  a  moment  of  anger,  threatened  Spikeman  with  an 
appeal  to  justice  and  punishment  by  the  government  in  England, 
the  latter  grimly  sneered  at  his  threats,  and  bade  him  beware  lest 
he  himself  might  be  sent,  as  a  malcontent,  out  of  the  country. 
It  was,  indeed,  far  more  probable  that  such  would  be  the  result 
of  Arundel's  persistency,  than  that  he  should  succeed  in  carrying 
off  his  mistress;  and,  blinded  as  he  was  by  love,  he  could  not  con 
ceal  from  himself  the  danger.  To  this  was  to  be  added  another 
peril,  which  the  Assistant,  in  one  of  their  conversations,  had 
hinted  at,  and  of  which  we  have  also  made  mention,  viz :  that 
he  might  incur  the  punishment  provided  for  those  who  paid  court 
to  maidens  without  the  consent  of  the  guardian  or  magistrate. 

But  the  young  couple  had,  besides  Prudence,  a  powerful  friend, 
whose  kind  heart  pitied  their  misfortunes,  and  by  whose  means, 
assisted  by  the  faithful  serving-maid,  they  had  many  stolen  meet 
ings,  unknown  to  their  persecutor,  and  this  was  no  other  than 

5* 


114  THE   KNIGHT   OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE. 

dame  Spikeman  herself.  Destitute  of  children,  she  had  been 
early  attracted  by  the  beautiful  orphan,  for  whom  she  soon  learned 
to  feel  the  aifection  of  a  mother.  Into  her  tender  bosom  the 
unprotected  girl  poured  her  griefs,  and  always  met  with  sympa 
thy  and  good  counsel.  At  first,  the  good  dame  attempted  to  al 
ter  the  determination  of  her  husband,  but  finding  her  efforts  in 
vain,  she  finally  abandoned  them,  and  contented  herself  with  fa 
voring  the  lovers  by  every  means  in  her  power,  without  his 
knowledge,  trusting  to  the  chapter  of. accidents  for  the  result. 
Perhaps  a  few  pieces  of  coin,  distributed  by  Arundel  now  and 
then  among  the  servants,  contributed  to  preserve  the  knowledge 
of  their  meetings  from  the  Assistant,  who,  whatever  he  might 
suspect,  found  it  difficult,  engaged  in  his  business,  to  detect  them. 

While  we  have  been  making  this  tedious  but  necessary  expla 
nation,  the  young  man  has  had  time  to  reach  the  thickest  part  of 
the  forest,  lying  midway  betwixt  the  residence  of  the  knight  and 
his  place  of  destination.  He  followed  a  narrow  path  made  origi 
nally  by  the  Indians,  as  they  traversed  the  woods  in  the  manner 
peculiar  to  themselves,  known  by  the  name  of  Indian  file,  now 
skirting  the  edge  of  a  morass,  now  penetrating  through  a  thick 
undergrowth,  and  now  walking  in  more  open  spaces  and  under 
the  shade  of  enormous  trees. 

Arundel,  as  he  walked  along  with  his  piece  in  his  hand,  had 
kept  watchfully  looking  round  to  discern  any  game  within  range, 
when,  as  he  reached  one  of  these  open  spaces,  his  eyes  fell  upon 
a  dark  object  crouched  upon  a  lower  limb  of  a  tree  immediately 
over  the  path  before  him,  and  he  instantly  recognised  the  animal 
as  the  cougar  or  American  panther.  It  is  the  habit  of  the  crea 
ture  thus  to  conceal  itself  in  trees,  waiting  till  its  prey  passes 
along,  when,  with  one  bound,  it  springs  upon  its  back,  and  quickly 
succeeds,  by  its  own  weight,  and  by  tearing  the  veins  and  arteries 
of  the  neck,  in  bringing  it  to  the  ground. 

The  youth  stopped,  and  gazed  upon  the  motionless  beast,  whose 


THE   KNIGHT   OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  115 

half-shut  eyes  he  could  see  winking  at  him.  He  lay  extended 
upon  the  limb,  his  forward  feet  spread  out  at  full  length,  on  which 
rested  his  small  round  head,  with  little  ears  falling  back  almost 
flat,  his  hind  legs  drawn  up  under  his  body,  and  his  flexible  tail 
hanging  a  short  distance  beneath  the  bough.  The  dark  reddish 
color  of  the  hair  of  his  skin,  dashed  with  blackish  tints,  harmon 
ized  and  blended  well  with  the  hue  of  the  bark,  so  that  at  a  dis 
tance,  to  an  unpracticed  eye,  he  appeared  like  a  huge  excrescence 
on  the  tree,  or  a  large  butt  of  a  branch  that  had  lodged  in  its 
fall. 

The  young  man  did  not  hesitate  what  to  do.  He  had  come 
prepared  for  meeting  with  wild  animals,  and  felt  too  much  confi-. 
dence  in  himself  to  fear  the  encounter.  He  approached  so  as  to 
be  just  without  reach  of  the  spring  of  the  creature,  and  levelling 
his  piece,  while  he  could  see  the  cougar  shut  its  eyes  and  cling 
closer  to  the  limb,  fired.  The  sound  of  the  gun  rang  through 
the  ancient  forest,  and  in  an  instant  the  beast,  jumping  from  the 
limb,  fell  at  his  feet.  So  sudden  was  this,  that  Arundel  had  hard 
ly  time  to  withdraw  the  weapon  from  his  shoulder,  before  the 
animal  had  made  the  spring.  The  first  impulse  of  the  youth  on 
finding  the  ferocious  brute  thus  near,  was  to  club  his  gun  and 
strike  it  on  the  head ;  and  now  he  discovered  that  it  was  wound 
ed  in  one  of  the  forward  legs,  which  hung  helplessly  down.  But 
the  wound,  instead  of  disabling  or  intimidating,  only  inflamed 
the  ferocity  of  the  creature.  It  made  repeated  attempts  to  jump 
upon  its  foe,  which,  in  spite  of  the  crippled  condition  of  its  leg 
and  the  loss  of  blood,  Arundel  found  it  difficult  to  elude.  Active 
as  he  was,  and  though  he  succeeded  occasionally  in  inflicting  with 
his  hunting-knife  a  wound  upon  the  beast,  he  soon  began  to  sus 
pect  that,  notwithstanding  he  had  thus  far  escaped  with  some  in 
considerable  scratches,  the  powers  of  endurance  of  the  formidable 
forest  denizen  were  likely  to  exceed  his  own.  The  combat  had 
lasted  some  time,  when,  as  the  young  man  endeavored  to  avoid 


116  THE    KNIGHT   OF   THE   GOLDEN   MELICE. 

the  leap  of  the  panther  by  jumping  to  one  side,  his  feet  struck 
against  some  obstacle  and  he  fell  upon  his  back.  In  an  instant 
the  enraged  beast,  bleeding  from  its  many  wounds,  was  upon  his 
prostrate  person,  and  his  destruction  appeared  inevitable.  With 
a  desperate  effort,  he  struck  with  the  hunting-knife  at  the  pan 
ther,  who  caught  it  in  its  mouth,  the  blade  passing  between  its 
jaws  and  inflicting  a  slight  wound  at  the  sides,  so  slight  as  not  to 
be  felt,  and  stood  with  its  unhurt  paw  upon  his  breast,  powerless 
to  do  mischief  with  the  other,  and  glaring  with  eyes  of  flame 
upon  its  victim.  At  the  instant  when  the  panther,  shaking  the 
knife  out  of  its  mouth,  was  about  to  gripe,  with  open  jaws,  the 
throat  of  the  young  man,  it  suddenly  bounded  with  a  cry  into 
the  air,  almost  crushing  the  breath  out  of  the  body  of  its  antag 
onist,  and  giving  him  an  opportunity  to  rise.  When  Arundel 
stood  upon  his  feet,  he  beheld  the  panther  in  the  agonies  of  death — 
an  arrow  sticking  in  one  eye  and  an  Indian  striking  it  with  a 
tomahawk  upon  the  head,  for  which  great  agility  and  quickness 
were  necessary  in  order  to  avoid  the  paw  and  teeth  of  the  crea 
ture  in  its  dying  struggles.  These  soon  became  less  violent,  until, 
with  a  shudder,  the  limbs  relaxed,  and  it  lay  motionless  and 
harmless. 

Arundel  now  advanced  to  thank  for  his  timely  succor  the  In 
dian,  who  stood  quite  still  looking  at  him.  He  was  apparently 
less  than  thirty  years  of  age,  tall  and  well  formed,  with  a  counte 
nance  expressive  of  nobleness  and  generosity.  His  attire  con 
sisted  only  of  breech-cloth  and  leggins,  with  no  covering  for  the 
upper  part  of  his  person — a  garb  offering  fewest  obstructions  to 
his  movements  through  the  forest.  In  his  hand  he  held  a  bow ; 
a  quiver  full  of  arrows  was  slung  across  his  back ;  the  tomahawk 
was  returned  to  the  girdle  around  his  loins,  and  a  knife  hung  by 
a  deer-sinew  from  his  neck. 

"The  arrow  was  well  aimed,"  said  Arundel,  "that  saved  my 
life.  How  can  I  thank  my  brother  1" 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  117 

"Waqua  is  satisfied,"  replied  the  Indian,  in  very  imperfect 
English,  which  we  shall  not  attempt  to  imitate. 

"You  are  my  preserver,"  said  Arundel,  "and  shall  not  find 
the  white  man  ungrateful." 

"Enough,"  answered  the  Indian.  "Let  wild  beasts  find  some 
other  food  than  men." 

"  It  was  a  strong  hand  as  well  as  true  aim  that  sent  this  ar 
row,"  said  the  young  man,  drawing  the  shaft  out  of  the  animal's 
brain,  in  which  the  barbed  point,  coming  off,  remained  behind, 
"  and  I  must  furnish  you  at  least  another  arrow." 

"  Waqua  has  plenty  of  arrows  in  his  quiver,  and  can  get 
more." 

"  Thou  art  an  independent  fellow,"  exclaimed  Arundel ;  "  but 
there  is  one  thing  I  have  to  offer  thee  which  thou  must  accept — 
that  is,  my  hand,  and  it  is  a  sign  that  I  will  be  thy  brother." 

There  was  something  in  the  action  and  expression  of  Arundel's 
face  that  was  irresistibly  attractive  to  the  Indian.  He  took  the 
offered  hand  into  both  of  his  and  replied, 

"  Waqua  gives  his  two  hands  to  the  white  man.  He  loves 
the  white  man,  and  the  Great  Spirit  sent  Waqua  to  protect  his 
brother." 

"  Thou  hast  established  a  claim  to  my  friendship  stronger 
than  often  exists.  Be  sure  we  will  be  friends.  My  brother  is 
on  a  hunting  path.  What  success  has  he  ?" 

"  A  deer,"  replied  Waqua,  stepping  into  a  bush,  returning 
with  the  carcass  on  his  shoulder,  and  throwing  it  upon  the 
ground. 

"  Is  my  brother's  lodge  distant  ?" 

"  It  would  not  tire  a  new  born  fawn  to  run  the  distance.  My 
white  brother  shall  see  the  wigwam  of  Waqua,  and  rest  his 
limbs,  and  then  Waqua  will  go  with  him  to  the  lodges  of  the 
white  men  at  Shawmut." 

It  was  yet  early  in  the  day.    There  was  no  need  of  hurry,  and 


118  THE   KNIGHT   OF  THE  GOLDEN   MELICE. 

the  wish  of  the  Indian  of  itself  was  enough.  It  would  have  been 
indeed  ungracious  to  deny  acquiescence  to  one  who  had  just 
saved  his  life,  and  Arundel  therefore  at  once  signified  his  as 
sent.  But  before  they  started,  the  Indian  with  the  knife  which 
he  took  from  his  neck,  despoiled  the  panther  of  its  skin.  Throw 
ing  it  then  across  his  shoulders  on  top  of  the  deer's  carcass,  he 
led  the  way  out  of  the  path  in  a  direction  different  from  that  in 
which  Arundel  had  been  travelling. 

It  was  truly  as  Waqua  had  said,  and  a  few  moments  sufficed 
to  reach  his  habitation.  It  stood  by  itself,  near  the  margin  of 
the  Charles  river,  which  empties  into  Massachusetts  Bay,  and 
was  merely  a  rough  hunting  lodge,  made  of  bark,  yet  so  con 
structed  as  effectually  to  answer  the  purpose  for  which  it  was 
designed  during  the  milder  months.  Doubtless  in  winter  it  was 
deserted  for  the  more  comfortable  wigwam  in  the  village. 

Arrived  at  his  dwelling,  Waqua  took  down  some  skins  sus 
pended  on  one  side,  and  spreading  them  upon  the  ground,  cour 
teously  invited  his  companion  to  a  seat.  Arundel  was  glad  to 
rest  after  his  late  violent  conflict,  and  availed  himself  of  the 
opportunity  to  brush  off  the  dirt,  and  re-arrange  his  torn  and 
disordered  dress.  Meanwhile,  Waqua  kindled  a  fire,  and  cutting 
off  some  bear  steaks,  threw  them  on  the  glowing  coals.  The 
exercise  and  danger  of  Arundel  had  given  him  an  appetite,  and 
with  no  little  interest  he  watched  the  process.  The  meal  was 
soon  ready,  and  justice  done  to  it  by  both ;  and  upon  its  con 
clusion,  it  became  apparent  that  it  was  not  on  its  account  only 
that  Waqua  had  desired  to  return  to  his  wigwam.  It  was  also 
to  make  some  alteration  in  his  toilette,  therein  betraying  that 
fondness  for  ornament  which  is  equally  active  in  the  savage  and 
in  the  civilized  exquisite.  For  the  garments  he  had  worn,  others 
were  substituted  of  finer  quality,  and  more  showy  appearance. 
Over  his  shoulders  was  thrown  a  robe  of  beaver  skins ;  in  his 
hair  were  stuck  some  red  feathers,  and  from  his  ears  hung  pen- 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  119 

dants  carved  out  of  bone,  into  a  rude  imitation  of  birds.  Belts  of 
wampompeag  encircled  the  arms  above  the  elbow,  and  fell  over 
the  robe,  hanging  clown  the  shoulders.  The  preparation  was 
completed  by  painting  the  cheeks  and  forehead  vermillion.  Thus 
decorated,  with  bow  in  hand,  an  ornamented  quiver  on  his  back, 
and  tomahawk  in  girdle,  Waqua  considered  himself  fit  to  be  pre 
sented  at  any  court  in  the  world. 

Nor  when  he  advanced,  conscious  of  the  improvement  in  his 
appearance,  and  stepping  as  though  he  were  lord  of  the  un 
bounded  wilderness,  did  Arundel  attempt  to  conceal  his  admi 
ration  of  the  forest  Apollo.  Waqua  remarked  it  in  the  other's 
eyes,  and  a  gleam  of  satisfaction  lighted  up  his  face.  Throw 
ing  the  deer  he  had  killed  over  his  shoulder,  and  taking  a  small 
bundle  of  skins  in  his  hand,  the  Indian  preceded  his  companion 
on  their  way  to  the  settlement. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

"  Absit,  quoth  the  doctor." 


DON  QUIXOTE. 


UPON  arriving  at  the  little  town  of  Boston,  Arundel  made 
the  Indian  promise  to  return  to  him  at  the  ordinary  or  inn  where 
he  had  his  quarters,  after  the  furs  and  venison  should  be  disposed 
of.  Waqua  was  glad  to  make  the  promise,  and  the  two  sepa 
rated  ;  the  one,  directing  his  steps  towards  his  lodging ;  and  the 
other,  to  seek  a  purchaser  for  his  commodities.  Arundel  was 
anxious  to  express  his  gratitude,  and,  besides,  was  interested  by 
the  talk  of  the  child  of  the  forest;  while  Waqua,  on  his  part, 
was  evidently  disposed  to  meet  any  advances. 

Eleazar  Nettles,  the  worthy  host  of  the  Ship-tavern,who  stood 
at  the  door  of  the  low  rambling  building,  welcomed  his  lodger 
with  all  the  cordiality  he  could  throw  into  a  face  originally  not 
ill-looking  or  unpleasing,  but  which,  in  consequence  of  practising 
an  appearance  of  mortification,  (in  order  to  stand  well  with  the 
grave  citizens),  which  neither  belonged  to  the  calling  wherein  he 
was  engaged,  nor  by  nature  to  itself,  seemed  an  odd  mixture  of 
earthly  depravity  and  of  heavenly  grace.  Not  that  Eleazar  was 
a  bad  fellow.  Nature  had  originally  enclosed  in  his  dumpy  body 
a  good-humoured  soul  enough,  and,  in  a  less  austere  community, 


122      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

where  the  bent  of  his  disposition  might  have  had  fair  play,  he 
would  have  been  a  rather  jolly  dog.  He  was,  however,  a  victim 
of  fate.  By  what  disastrous  chance  his  lot  was  cast  in  that 
grim-visaged  region,  has  never  been  satisfactorily  explained,  but 
being  once  in  it,  and  a  publican  by  profession,  it  was  necessary  to 
conform  to  the  habits  and  manners  of  those  about  him,  unless  he 
desired  to  see  his  license  taken  away,  and  himself  a  suspected 
person,  as  well  as  without  employment.  These  prudential  con 
siderations  contending  with  Eleazar's  nature,  had  sobered  the 
otherwise  mirthful  features  of  his  face,  and  made  him  present 
the  appearance  of  a  merry  and  a  sad  man  rolled  into  one,  each 
striving  for  the  mastery,  and  each  alternately  achieving  victory, 
according  to  circumstances.  The  merry  man  was  safe  in  the 
presence  of  Arundel,  and,  therefore,  his  mouth  dissolved  into  a 
pleasant  chuckle  as  he  welcomed  him. 

"  It  is  a  joy  and  an  honor,  Master  Arundel,"  he  said,  "  to  see 
again  a  discreet  young  gentleman  like  yourself,  whose  spirits — 
ahem ! — are  lively  as  my  own  ale,  and  yet  chastised  by  a  godly 
'havior.  You  must  have  had  something  of  a  walk  this  morning. 
What  refreshment  may  it  please  you  to  take  ?  " 

While  uttering  this  speech,  he  had  been  busy  ushering  into  the 
tap  or  common  reception  room  the  young  man,  who,  by  the  time 
it  was  finished,  was  seated. 

"  Thy  guess  hits  the  mark,  mine  host,"  he  said;  "  but  what  is 
fitting  I  leave  to  thy  discretion.  Thou  shalt  prescribe  like  a 
physician." 

i(  Thou  art  a  sweet-tempered  gentleman,  and  easily  satisfied," 
answered  the  host,  "  and  I  should  be  no  better  than  a  heathen 
salvage  to  abuse  thy  goodness.  To  begin,  I  have  some  of  the 
famosest  malt  liquor  that  ever  ran  down  throat  with  a  relish." 

"  Avaunt,  with  thy  detestable  malt  liquors.  You  inveigled 
me  once  into  tasting  the  decoction,  and  methinks  that  should 
satisfy  thee,  if  not  me.  Thou  wilt  hardly  succeed  a  second 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.      123 

time.     It  will  never  do.     Thy  cellar  contains  something  better, 
to  my  knowledge." 

"  As  you  say,"  replied  the  landlord,  (whose  habit  was  to  re 
commend  his  ale  to  those  who  he  knew  would  not  take  it, 
in  order,  perhaps,  to  make  his  wines  taste  the  better,  by 
consideration  of  the  contrast) — "  as  you  say,  Master  Arundel,  my 
malt  liquor,  though  the  best  in  the  country,  is  not  for  high-bred 
gentlemen  like  yourself.  I  have  Spanish  wines,  and  French 
wines,  and  wines  from  Italy,  and  from  the  Canaries,  and  " — 

"  Any  will  do,"  said  Arundel,  knowing  that  a  single  kind  was 
made  to  play  the  part  of  vintages  from  all  parts  of  the  world ; 
"  so  be  prompt,  good  man,  for  my  thirst  increases." 

While  the  publican,  whose  business  was  not  sufficiently  large 
to  warrant  him  to  employ  a  tapster,  was  absent,  Arundel  looked 
round  the  apartment  to  see  what  company  was  present.  At  no 
great  distance  from  where  he  sat  were  half-a-dozen  persons,  some 
of  whom,  by  their  dress,  seemed  to  be  sailors,  and  others  citizens. 
As  he  turned  to  look  at  them,  two  or  three,who  were  his  acquaint 
ances,  saluted  him  ;  and  the  conversation,  which  his  entrance  had 
a  little  interrupted,  flowed  again  with  a  full  current. 
*  "  A  queer  bit  of  a  town,  good-man  Fairweather,  the  saints 
have  built  up  for  themselves,"  exclaimed  a  man  in  a  sailor's 
jacket.  "  Do  you  know  what  it  looks  like  to  me  ?  " 

"  How  should  I  know,  Capt,  Sparhawk,  how  Boston  looks  to 
you  ?"  answered  the  man  addressed. 

"  That  depends  upon  the  strength  of  the  liquor,  methinks,"  said 
a  third. 

"  That  answer,  Billy  Pantry,"  said  the  Captain,  "  for  a  lubber 
that  knows  not  the  difference  between  the  futtock  shrouds  and 
Jacob's  ladder,  and  whose  head  is  so  little  and  his  paunch  so 
big,  is  what  my  old  schoolmaster  called  a  Lucy — Lucy — damn 
the  other  part  of  the  name — there  I  miss  stays,  by  Neptune ! — 
anyhow,  it  begun  with  a  Nat,  but  there  was  more  of  it." 


124  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

"  Natwood,"  suggested  Billy  Pantry.  "  I  know  a  Polly  Nat- 
wood  in  Suffolk,  one  of  the  completest  wenches" — 

"  If  she  was  not  completer  than  thy  wit,"  interrupted  the  Cap 
tain,  "  her  figure-head  was  left  unfinished.  But,  avast  there  ;  we 
are  drifting  off  soundings.  Where  was  1 1  Aye  ;  belay,  I  have  it. 
I  was  telling  you  what  your  beggarly  town  looks  like." 

"  Aye,  but  about  Lucy,"  said  another,  who  had  not  spoken  be 
fore,  and  whose  perception  looked  dimly  out  of  his  hazy  eyes ! 
"  I  should  like  to  hear  first  about  her.  I  always  liked  the  wo 
men." 

"Hear  old  Wheat,"  cried  the  Captain — " the  wicked  villain. 
All  the  knowledge  he  has  of  the  women,  I'll  be  qualified  on  the 
main  brace,  is  what  he  got  from  Betty  Quickfist  when  she  hit 
him  a  cuff  on  the  ear  for  his  impudence,  and  twisted  it  out  o' 
shape,  as  ye  may  see  without  taking  a  quadrant  for  the  observa 
tion." 

"  Why,"  said  Billy  Pantry,  turning  his  mess-mate's  head  about, 
"  his  two  ears  are  much  alike,  and,  as  you  say,  Captain,  lop  dam 
nably  ;  so  he  must  have  caught  it  on  both  of  them,  though  this 
one  here,  away  to  windward,  looks  as  if  it  had  been  cut  off  and 
stuck  on  again." 

"Shut  up  your  duff-trap,"  said  Wheat,  gruffly,  "or  I'll  send 
your  teeth  on  a  cruise  down  your  throat." 

"  Come,  come,"  cried  the  Captain,  "  I  choose  to  do  all  the 
quarreling  for  this  company.  How  now,  my  masters,  is  there  to 
be  no  discipline  when  my  foot  is  off  the  quarter-deck  ?  If  an 
other  man  speaks  above  his  breath,  by  the  beard  of  father  Nep 
tune,  I  will  stop  his  grog.  Where  was  I  ?  Let  me  take  the  lat 
itude  once  more.  Aye,  here  away  bearing  up  to  tell  how  I  liked 
this  prig  of  a  town." 

"  Blast  my  tarry  top-lights  and  to'gallant  eyebrows.  Do  you 
call  this  a  town  ?"  demanded  Bill.  "Folk  does  not  call  a  thing 
like  this  a  town  in  old  Hingland." 


THE   KNIGHT   OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  125 

"  Aye,  old  England  forever,"  cried  the  Captain,  standing  up. 
"  Boys,  fill  your  cups  all  round,  and  we  will  drink  a  health  to 
our  dear  old  mammy." 

"  I  should  like  to  pleasure  you,  Captain,"  said  one  of  the  citi 
zens,  "  and  will  drink  in  all  reason  till  sundown,  but  there  is  a 
law  against  drinking  healths." 

"I  suppose  there  will  be  a  law  next,"  exclaimed  the  Captain, 
"  against  eating,  and  that  will  finish  the  job.  The  rest  of  you 
may  do  as  you  like,  but  Jack  Sparhawk  never  yet  was  afraid  of 
any  man,  and  is  not  going  now  to  strike  his  peak  to  Admiral 
Winthrop.  So  here's  a  toast  for  ye : 

"  '  Prosperity  to  England's  friends ! 

Perdition  to  her  foes  ! 
Heaven  to  herself !  to  hell  she  sends 
All  Spaniards  and  Crapeaus  ! ' " 

Saying  this,  he  drained  his  cup.  "  And  now,  boys,  about  this 
little  starched  old  maid  of  a  town " 

"  There  you  are,  in  a  fog,  Captain,"  interrupted  Pantry.  "  How 
can  it  be  an  old  maid,  when,  on  every  tack,  half  a  dozen  chil 
dren,  like  so  many  porpoises,  come  across  your  bowsf 

"  Any  wit  but  thine  own  would  easily  box  that  compass,"  an 
swered  the  Captain.  "  But  talking  is  thirsty  business,  and  we 
will  have  up  another  bottle.  Halloa,  old  Nettletop,  bear  a  hand 
with  some  more  of  your  weak-waters.  What  do  you  stand  gap 
ing  there  for,  like  a  chicken  with  the  pip  ?  Oif  with  you.  And 
now,  while  old  Thistle  is  rummaging  the  locker,  I  will  give  you 
my  mind  about  this  matter  of " 

But,  alas  !  an  incident  now  occurred  which  has  deprived  pos 
terity  forever  of  the  invaluable  opinion  of  Captain  Sparhawk  re 
specting  the  appearance  of  Boston  in  16 — ,  and  of  his  explana 
tion  of  the  phenomenon  suggested  by  Bill. 

Some  five  or  ten  minutes  before,  a  grave  looking  personage, 
with  a  long  staff  in  his  hand,  had  stolen  quietly  into  the  room, 


126      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

unnoticed  by  any  one  but  Arundel — the  landlord  being  absent  at 
the  time — and  taken  a  seat  where  he  could  overhear  the  conver 
sation.  Upon  mine  host's  return,  and  noticing  the  stranger,  he 
exhibited  some  embarrassment,  and  endeavored  to  catch  the  at 
tention  of  the  drinking  party  without  attracting  that  of  the  new 
comer.  His  efforts,  however,  were  in  vain,  and  assuming  an  air 
of  deep  mortification,  he  waited  for  what  should  happen.  Upon 
being  required  by  the  Captain  to  supply  more  wine,  he  had  shaken 
his  head,  which  it  seems  was  not  taken  much  notice  of  by  the 
sailor,  and  was  preparing  to  reply,  when  he  was  anticipated  by 
the  stranger.  Lifting  up  his  staff,  and  pointing  with  it  at  the  ta 
ble,  he  said, 

"  Furnish  no  more  strong  liquor,  good  man  Nettles,  to  these 
carousers.  Methinks  they  have  already  had  more  than  enough 
for  their  souls'  or  bodies1  health." 

"I  will  not  gainsay  thee,  master  Prout,"  said  the  host,  "  and 
will  obey,  as  becometh  a  man  who  respects  thee  and  thine  office ; 
but  the  wine  is  good  and  can  do  no  harm,  as  thou  mayest  convince 
thyself  by  trial.  I  will  pour  thee  out  a  cup." 

"  Nay,"  said  Master  Prout,  "  I  need  it  not.  I  do  stand  amaz 
ed,"  he  added,  bending  his  brows  severely  on  the  host,  "  that 
thou,  a  man  professing  godliness,  and  one  of  the  congregation, 
shouldst  administer  to  the  carnal  appetite  till  the  graceless  sinner 
is  converted  into  a  swine." 

"  Dear  Master  Prout,  be  not  so  hard  on  a  friend.  I  knew  not 
the  strength  of  my  wine,  or  that  these  strangers  were  so  unac 
customed  to  drinking.  The  wine  hath  been  but  lately  bought, 
being  part  of  the  cargo  of  the  Abstemious,  and  thou  knowest  I 
indulge  not,  else  I  should  have  been  acquainted  with  its  potency, 
and  regulated  things  accordingly.  But  thou  seest  the  six  have 
drunk  only  so  many  poor  bottles." 

"  Enough,  goodman  Nettles,"  answered  Prout.  "  Remove, 
now,  these  incitements  to  temptation,  and  after  that  will  I  drop 
a  word  of  friendly  advisement  into  the  ears  of  these  offenders." 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.  127 

During  this  conversation  a  profound  silence  had  prevailed  at 
the  table — the  three  citizens  recognising  in  the  intruder  one  whose 
authority  it  would  be  folly  to  resist,  and  the  sailors  apparently 
confounded  at  the  boldness  of  the  interference,  and  curious  to 
hear  what  should  pass  between  the  landlord  and  his  dictatorial 
visitor.  But  when  mine  host,  in  obedience  to  an  order  from  the 
latter,  began  to  take  away  the  bottles  and  cups,  Captain  Spar- 
hawk,  who  had  sat  leaning  on  his  elbow  upon  the  table  and  eye 
ing  the  two,  now  seemed  to  think  that  his  dignity  required  some 
interference  on  his  part. 

"How  now,  my  masters,"  he  exclaimed.  "What  coil  is  this? 
Are  we  to  be  boarded  in  this  piratical  way,  and  see  all  our  stores 
and  provisions  captured  without  a  blow  ^  Run  up  the  red  cross, 
Wheat.  Call  all  hands  to  repel  boarders,  and  follow  me." 

"  Cease  thy  papistical  babble ;  it  doth  vex  my  soul  more  even 
than  thy  drunkenness,"  cried  Master  Prout. 

"  Papist  in  thy  teeth  and  drunkenness  to  boot,"  exclaimed  the 
excited  captain,  at  the  same  time  striking  at  Master  Prout,  who, 
however,  easily  eluded  the  blow  of  the  intoxicated  man. 

The  other  two  sailors  now  manifested  some  intention  of  com 
ing  to  the  assistance  of  their  superior,  but  were  held  back  by  the 
citizens,  and  restrained,  moreover,  by  a  knowledge  of  the  formi 
dable  power  of  Master  Prout,  who  was  well  known  as  a  sort  of 
censor  or  guardian  of  the  morals  of  the  place,  appointed  by  the 
magistrates. 

"  Keep  quiet,  man,"  said  Prout,  pushing  the  obstreperous  cap 
tain  back  into  his  seat,  "  or  thy  mazzard  and  my  staff  may  be 
come  better  acquainted  than  will  be  altogether  agreeable.  Do 
thou  hold  him,  good  man  Nettles,  as  being  in  some  wise  account 
able  for  his  condition.  So  shalt  thou,  also,  partake  of  the  savory 
crumbs  of  advice  which  it  is  my  intention  to  bestow  on  this  man 
of  Belial  and  his  companions." 

Master  Prout,  thereupon  drawing  a  chair,  placed  it  immedi- 


128  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE, 

ately  in  front  of  the  captain,  and  seated  himself,  while  mine  host 
held  the  delinquent  fast.  The  functionary  paid  no  attention 
whatever  to  the  exclamations  and  ejaculations  of  the  sailor,  which, 
furious  at  first,  gradually  died  away  until  they  ceased  entirely, 
but  went  on  steadily  with  his  speech. 

"  Thou  art  a  stranger,"  he  said,  "  and  therefore  am  I  the  more 
disposed  to  overlook  thy  transgression,  seeing  that  thou  art  not 
acquainted  with  the  manners  of  the  godly  town  of  Boston,  and  art 
not  yet  prepared  to  realize  thy  privilege  in  being  permitted  to  visit 
it.  Moreover,  I  see  by  thy  garments  and  speech  that  thou  art  one 
of  those  who  go  down  to  the  sea  in  ships,  and  who,  though  they 
behold  the  wonders  of  the  deep,  are,  for  the  most  part,  unaffected 
by  the  mighty  works  of  Him  at  whose  word  the  stormy  wind 
ariseth,  or  at  His  rebuke  chasteneth  itself  into  a  calm.  But  thou 
art  a  man  having  within  thee  an  immortal  soul,  and  my  spirit  is 
troubled  exceedingly,  and  my  bowels  are  like  to  burst  within  me, 
when  I  behold  thee  given  over  to  folly.  Hearken  thou,  for  my 
lips  shall  utter  judgment,  and  thine  ears  shall  drink  in  under 
standing. 

"  Behold  here,  in  this  Boston,  have  godly  fugitives  from  op 
pression,  men  whose  faces  are  set  as  steel  against  all  evil,  set  up 
their  habitations,  to  be  an  enduring  city  unto  the  Lord ;  and, 
within  our  borders,  may  no  scoffer  or  profane  person,  as  was 
Esau,  nor  riotous  liver,  abide.  But  the  necessities  of  our  position 
do  in  some  wise  constrain  us,  for  trade  and  other  useful  purposes, 
to  allow  communication  with  them  who  are  not  of  our  way  of 
thinking.  Therefore  do  we  grant  unto  them  free  entrance,  for 
a  time,  into  our  Canaan,  sobeit  they  observe  the  limits  of  decent 
moderation,  and  vex  not  our  souls  beyond  Christian  patience, 
hoping,  moreover,  that,  seeing  our  righteous  example,  they  may  be 
converted  from  their  evil  ways,  and  trusting  that  the  Lord  will 
preserve  us  from  defilement.  But  we  hold  not  ourselves  bound 
to  tolerate  rioting  and  drunkenness,  which  are  not  convenient. 


THE    KNIGHT   OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  129 

but  contrariwise,  to  restrain  them  by  the  sword  of  the  magistrate, 
if  need  be.  Of  both  these  thou  art,  unhappily,  guilty,  inasmuch 
as  thou  didst  forget  where  thou  art,  and  wert  mindful  only  of 
the  customs  of  thy  heathen  companions  at  home ;  and  were  I  ex 
treme  to  mark  what  is  done  amiss,  surely  thy  punishment  were 
heavy.  But  this  is  thy  first  offence,  and  I  hope  will  be  thy  last ; 
therefore  say  I  unto  thee,  go  and  sin  no  more,  especially  as  thy 
fault  is  not  of  public  notoriety,  and  goodman  Nettles  and  thy 
friends,  for  their  own  sakes  and  this  good  youth  (turning  to  Arun 
del)  and  myself,  to  avoid  scandal,  will  keep  silence  thereupon. 
I  pass  over  thy  rude  and  silly  speeches  as  proceeding  not  from 
thyself,  but  from  the  evil  spirit  of  wine  that  mastered  and  made 
a  fool  of  thee.  Henceforward,  while  remembering  our  mercy, 
dread  our  justice,  shouldst  thou  be  tempted  a  second  time  to  of 
fend." 

Having  thus  spoken,  Master  Prout  rose,  and  deliberately 
clapping  his  steeple-crowned  hat  upon  his  head,  stalked  demurely 
out  of  the  apartment,  satisfied  that  after  his  rebuke  the  company 
would  be  unable  to  obtain  any  more  strong  potations.  Ih  this 
supposition  he  tvas  perfectly  correct — goodman  Nettles  too 
thoroughly  understanding  his  own  interest  and  the  character  of 
the  man  to  venture  to  disobey  him ;  for  though  Master  Prout  felt 
friendly  tq  the  publican,  as  was  evident,  there  were  some  things 
he  would  not  overlook,  and  no  offence  could  be  committed  more 
heinous  than  disregarding  his  orders.  Captain  Sparhawk,  who 
toward  the  close  of  the  Puritan's  address,  had  been  subdued  into 
a  most  unwilling  silence,  manifested,  as  soon  as  it  was  finished,  a 
desire  to  reply ;  but  the  host  placed  his  hand  on  the  recusant's 
mouth,  and  compelled  him  to  be  silent. 

"  Art  mad  *?"  he  whispered.  "  Dost  wish  to  ruin  me,  and 
have  thine  ears  nailed  to  the  whipping-post,  and  perhaps  cut  off? 
Remember  thou  art  at  Boston,  and  not  in  old  England.  Here,  men 
drink  in  a  godly  manner,  and  use  the  gifts  of  Providence  as  not 

6 


130  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

abusing  them,  and  not  like  blinded  papists,  or  as  some  say,  like 
them  of  the  Church  of  England ;  but  I  am  more  liberal,  as 
becomes  one  of  my  profession.  Be  thankful  for  the  clemency  of 
Master  Prout,  a  worthy  man,  and  a  considerate,  whose  advice  is 
like  silver  nails  driven  in  by  the  master  of  assemblies." 

Thus  continued,  in  this  strain,  the  astute  landlord,  until  Master 
Prout  had  left  the  house,  and  was  out  of  hearing,  when  he  re 
leased  the  captain,  and  allowed  him  liberty  of  speech. 

If  the  publican  had  expected  a  burst  of  angry  language  from 
the  sailor,  he  was  agreeably  disappointed.  So  far  from  venting 
his  feelings  in  that  way,  the  worthy  captain  seemed  now  to  con 
sider  all  that  had  happened  as  a  capital  joke,  and  broke  out  in 
a  hearty  laugh. 

"  Queer  country,  my  men,  this,"  he  said,  (l  where  a  meddle 
some  tipstaff  will  not  let  a  true-blooded  Englishman  pay  toll  to 
his  Majesty's  excise.  But  old  Sour-chops  is  gone,  and  we  will 
have  'tother  bottle  now  to  drink  better  manners  to  him ;  so  bear 
a  hand,  Nettle,  Thistle,  or  whatever  you  call  yourself." 

"  I  dare  not  give  you  more  wine  for  the  present,"  said  the 
host.  "  Master  Prout's  authority  is  absolute  in  this  matter,  and 
not  a  drop  from  spigot  or  bottle  runs  on  your  account.  Be 
reasonable,  noble  captain,"  he  continued,  seeing  that  the  sailor 
was  disposed  to  insist  on  his  demand,  "  and  consider  that  in 
refusing  thee,  I  do  in  some  sort  prejudice  myself  for  our  mutual 
benefit." 

Here  the  companions  of  the  captain  interfering,  and  the  citi 
zens,  in  particular,  insisting  that  on  no  account  would  they  drink 
more,  the  refractory  Sparhawk,  after  some  growls  at  the  "  queer 
country,"  was  obliged  to  submit,  and  soon  after,  paying  the 
reckoning,  took  leave  with  his  company. 

The  scene  was  not  altogether  new  to  Arundel,  who  had  looked 
on  with  amused  interest.  It  was  not  the  first  time  when  he  had 
seen  the  official  in  the  exercise  of  his  somewhat  arbitrary  au- 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.  131 

thority,  order  away,  like  the  physician  of  Sancho  Pan/.a  in  his 
famous  government  of  Barrataria,  the  goblet,  just  as  it  was  about 
to  be  carried  to  the  lips  of  the  expecting  guest.  He  had  before 
laughed  at  the  stare  of  bewildered  disappointment  of  the 
astonished  toper,  and  the  subdued  humor  of  Master  Prout,  hardly 
concealed  by  his  austere  exterior,  but  he  felt  no  disposition  to 
censure  the  severity  of  the  regulation.  It  was  of  the  utmost  im 
portance,  as  well  for  the  peace  and  good  order  of  the  colony,  as 
in  accordance  with  the  principles  of  self-denial  and  virtuous 
living  on  which  it  was  founded,  that  every  disorder  should  be 
checked  in  the  bud.  Considering  the  variety  of  adventurers,  of 
all  shades  of  character,  from  the  religious  enthusiast,  seeking  in 
unknown  regions,  invested  with  strange  charms  by  a  heated 
imagination,  the  kingdom  of  saints  upon  earth,  which  he 
had  vainly  hoped  to  erect  in  the  old  world,  down  to  the  reck 
less  freebooter,  whose  life  had  been  passed  in  wild  indulgence, 
unrestrained  by  law,  human  or  divine,  whom  chance  or  design 
had  thrown  upon  their  coast,  it  is  obvious  that  a  vigilant  eye 
and-strong  hand  were  necessary  to  note  and  repress  every  in 
cipient  sign  of  irregularity  or  turbulence. 

Yet  did  the  host  sigh  as  he  dropped  into  a  seat  at  the  de 
parture  of  the  company.  With  one  eye  fixed  upon  a  heavenly 
and  the  other  on  an  earthly  treasure,  he  was  counting  up  in  his 
mind  the  crowns  he  had  lost  by  the  intrusion  of  Master  Prout, 
and  at  the  same  time  lamenting  the  depravity  of  men  who  could 
bear  no  more  than  a  bottle  of  wine  apiece. 

"  Master  Arundel,"  he  said  at  length,  "  I  do  admire  the  wis 
dom — ahem — of  the  worshipful  magistrates  in  the  care  they  take 
of  the  citizens  and  visitors  of  our  godly  town.  By  the  ap 
pointment  of  Master  Prout  to  the  office  which  he  doth  some 
times  exercise  with  somewhat  of  rigor,  they  do,  too,  in  a  manner 
avouch  the  value  of  my  calling,  and  their  desire  to  countenance 
it,  and  that  in  agreement  with  Scripture,  for  is  it  not  written 


132  THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

that  He  hath  given  wine  to  gladden  man's  heart  ?  Nevertheless, 
methinks,  being  one  of  the  congregation,  a  modicum  might  be 
left  to  mine  own  judgment  in  regard  to  the  capacity  of  my 
guests.  Not  that  I  care  about  the  two  or  three  pieces  whereof  his 
interference  hath  deprived  me — ahem — but  the  feelings  of  godly 
men  who  know  best  what  is  good  for  them,  are  hurt  needlessly 
oftentimes.  The  wine  is  good,  as  can  be  proved  by  our  own 
virtuous  citizens,  who  have  not  injured  themselves  by  early 
rioting,  and  are  able,  as  a  reward  of  their  youthful  temperance, 
to  drink  twice  as  much  as  this  Captain  Sparhawk,  who  hath 
probably,  in  a  measure,  injured  his  constitution  by  indulgence 
in  bad  liquors.  Man  is  truly  a  fallen  creature,"  concluded 
goodman  Nettles,  heaving  a  deep  sigh, — "  ahem — or  such  wine 
could  never  affect  him." 

Arundel  felt  no  inclination  to  discuss  the  subject,  and  soon 
retired  to  his  apartment. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


"  With  wild  surprise, 
As  if  to  marble  struck,  devoid  of  sense, 
A  stupid  moment  motionless." 

THOMSON'S  SEASONS. 


A  COUPLE  of  hours  elapsed  before  Waqua  made  his  appearance, 
after  disposing  of  his  skins  and  venison.  He  had  exchanged 
them  for  such  articles  as  his  savage  taste  fancied,  among  which 
Arundel  noticed  a  small  mirror,  in  a  brass  frame,  hung  like  a 
medal  on  his  breast,  and  a  red  woollen  sash  tied  around  his 
waist.  As  the  Indian,  thus  bedecked,  entered  the  room,  it  was 
with  an  increase  of  dignity  becoming  one  possessed  of  such 
splendid  ornaments,  whereat,  however,  Arundel  found  it  difficult 
to  repress  a  smile.  But  it  was  important  to  the  maintenance  of 
their  new  friendship  that  no  such  levity  should  be  perceived, 
which  might  have  aroused  the  resentment  of  the  savage.  Sup 
pressing  then  the  feeling,  and  regarding  his  tawny  friend  with  a 
face  of  welcome,  the  young  man  said  : 

"  You  look  bravely,  Sachem  ;  it  is  a  pity  the  Indian  girls  do 
not  see  you." 

"  They  will  see,"  said  the  Indian,  "  when  Waqua  returns  to 
his  village.  Look,"  he  continued,  presenting  the  mirror  to 
Arundel,  and,  unable  to  conceal  his  admiration,  "  it  is  a  still 
spring  in  an  open  plain." 


134:  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN   MELICE. 

"  You  will  not  be  obliged  now  to  leave  the  wigwam  and  seek 
the  clear  water  when  you  wish  to  paint  your  face." 

"Waqua  thanks  the  white  man,"  said  the  Indian,  gazing 
admiringly  at  himself  in  the  mirror,  "  for  the  clear  frozen 
water  which  he  can  carry  with  him  wherever  he  goes.  Waqua 
will  never  more  be  alone,  for  whenever  he  pleases  he  may  look 
into  the  bright  frozen  water  and  see  a  warrior.  Let  me  behold 
my  brother  in  the  wonderful  medicine." 

He  held  up  the  glass  to  Arundel,  and  laughed,  as  he  saw  the 
reflection. 

"  My  brother's  face  is  now  in  the  frozen  water,"  he  said, 
"  and  Whenever  I  look  into  it,  I  shall  see  my  brother  as  well  as 
Waqua." 

"And  trust  me,  Waqua,  that  I  will  be  a  true  friend  unto 
thee.  I  do  begin  to  think  that  the  extraordinary  liking  of  the 
knight  for  thy  race  is  not  misplaced." 

"  Speaks  my  brother  of  Soog-u-gest,  of  the  white  chief  who 
lives  away  from  his  people  in  the  forest  ?" 

"  I  speak  of  the  Knight  of  the  Golden  Melice,  of  him  whom 
the  Indians  call  Soog-u-gest,  or  the  eagle.  I  had  left  his  lodge 
but  a  short  time  when  Heaven  sent  thee  to  my  aid." 

"  The  tall,  white  chief,  men  say,  is  not  like  other  white  men. 
He  loves  the  forest  children,  and  they  love  him." 

"  Love  begets  love,  and  one  noble  quality  attracts  another. 
But  it  is  my  turn,  Waqua,  to  show  you  hospitality  ;  and  to  a 
strong,  healthy  fellow  like  you,  dinner,  methinks,  can  never  come 
amiss." 

The  meal  which,  upon  the  order  of  Arundel,  was  served  up, 
seemed  to  meet  with  the  unqualified  approbation  of  the  Indian. 
Yet  this  is  an  inference  derived,  not  from  the  manner  in  which 
he  partook  of  the  repast,  but  from  the  quantity  which  he  ate. 
Although  unacquainted  with  the  mode  of  using  a  knife  and  fork, 
and,  therefore,  compelled  to  depend  upon  the  instruments  fur- 


THE    KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  135 

nished  by  nature,  there  was  nothing  in  his  conduct  that  resem 
bled  ill-breeding.  He  accepted,  with  a  grave  courtesy,  whatever 
was  offered,  eating  deliberately,  and  expressing  no  preference  for 
one  thing  over  another.  His  entertainer  fancied  that,  from  time 
to  time,  he  cast  a  stolen  glance,  as  if  watching  motions  in  order 
to  accommodate  himself  to  them.  However  that  may  be,  the 
young  white  man  was  greatly  pleased  with  the  untutored  po 
liteness  of  his  red  companion,  and  desirous  to  please  him  in  all 
respects,  did  not  deny  his  guest  the  stimulus  of  strong  water ; 
taking  care,  nevertheless,  that  the  wine  drunk  should  be  in  too 
small  quantities  to  affect  him  injuriously.  Of  this,  Waqua  par 
took  with  peculiar  zest,  and  it  is  fortunate  that  he  had  one  more 
prudent  than  himself  to  stop  him  before  temperate  indulgence 
became  excess.  For  so.  great  is  the  delight  which  the  Indian 
temperament  derives  from  the  use  of  intoxicating  drinks,  that  it 
is  difficult  to  regulate  the  appetite.  Brought  up  without  much 
self-control,  if  civilization  be  taken  as  a  standard, — regardless  of 
the  past,  heedless  of  the  future,  and  mindful  only  of  the  present, 
— the  wild  child  of  nature  quaffs  with  eager  joy  the  fire-water, 
which  seems  to  bring  him  inspiration,  and  to  extend  the  bounds 
of  existence. 

"  Waqua  knows,"  said  the  savage,  holding  up  his  cup  at  the 
end  of  the  meal,  "  that  the  Great  Spirit  loves  his  white  children 
very  much,  else  never  would  he  have  given  them  the  dancing 
fire-water  that  streams  through  me  like  the  sun  through  morning 
clouds." 

"  Beware,"  said  Arundel,  "  that  it  be  not  more  like  the  light 
ning,  which  marks  its  path  with  destruction.  But,  Waqua,  come 
thou  now  with  me.  I  saw  no  red  cloth  in  thy  lodge,  and  there 
was  but  little  paint  in  thy  pot,  and  I  know  where  there  is 
plenty." 

"  My  brother  is  an  open  hand,  and  will  make  Waqua's  wig 
wam  as  gay  as  the  breast  of  the  Gues-ques-kes-cha." 


136  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

With  these  words,  the  Indian  followed  Arundel  into  the  street, 
walking  in  his  tracks,  and  the  two  pursued  their  way  in  the  di 
rection  of  one  of  the  principal  store-houses. 

The  street  led  directly  by  the  house  of  the  Assistant  Spikeman, 
and,  as  they  passed,  the  eyes  of  the  young  man  were  busy,  as 
was  natural,  to  discover  traces  of  his  mistress.  Nor  was  he 
doomed  to  disappointment.  As  he  came  opposite,  a  casement 
opened,  a  small  white  hand  was  thrust  out,  and  beckoned  to  hini' 
Thus  invited,  Arundel  stepped  within  the  door,  whither  he  was 
followed  by  the  savage.  In  those  days,  the  simple  forest  children 
thought  there  was  no  harm  in  asking  for  a  hospitality  they  were 
ever  ready  to  grant  themselves,  and  which  they  considered  a  duty ; 
nor  inasmuch  as  they  never  attempted  to  take  away  anything  by 
violence,  but  thankfully  accepted  whatever  was  offered  to  them, 
were  their  visits  generally  discouraged.  Indeed,  the  importance  of 
treating  them  with  indulgence  was  sedulously  inculcated  by  both 
elders  and  magistrates^  as  being  conducive  to  their  own  security 
as  well  as  from  higher  motives.  The  expediency  of  such  conduct 
was  so  obvious  that  few  were  found  to  disregard  it.  Hence  the 
Indians,  on  their  visits  to  the  settlement,  were  accustomed,  if  they 
wanted  food,  or  to  enter  the  houses  for  any  other  purpose,  to  step 
in  with  the  same  freedom  almost  as  into  their  own  wigwams.  If 
now  and  then  a  circumstance  occurred  inconsistent  with  the 
sacred  duty  of  hospitality,  it  was  not  considered  as  reflecting 
disgrace  upon  the  whole  community,  but  only  on  the  sordid  churl 
who  was  the  occasion  of  it,  and  whose  domicile  was  ever  after 
wards  carefully  avoided. 

The  young  man  and  his  dusky  companion  were  met  by  Pru 
dence,  who,  while  conducting  them  into  a  room,  whispered  : 

"  Why,  Master  Miles,  who  expected  to  see  you  ?  People  said 
you  was  ever  so  far  away  in  the  woods,  living  with  bears  and 
wolves.  Have  you  got  one  here  ?" 

"  Poh,  poh !  pretty  Prudence,  no  one  hath  better  reason  to 


THE   KNIGHT   OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  137 

look  for  me  than  thyself,  seeing  thy  message  brought  me.  As  for 
my  copper  friend,  he  is  the  gentlest  savage  that  ever  took  a  scalp. 
Do  not  be  frightened,  and  clap  thy  hand  on  thy  head  :  he  will 
none  of  thine.  But  thy  mistress,  where  is  she  ?  " 

"  I  declare,  Master  Miles,  you  have  scared  almost  all  the 
breath  out  of  my  body.  Oh  !  how  my  heart  beats  !  Follow  me 
quick,  for  I  want  to  get  out  of  the  way." 

"  Waqua  will  wait  for  his  brother  here,"  said  the  young  man, 
turning  to  his  follower,  whose  eyes  he  noticed  were  fastened  on 
a  full  length  portrait  hanging  on  the  wall ;  "  for  which  reason," 
he  added,  "  and,  during  my  absence,  may  make  acquaintance 
with  the  venerable  ancestor  of  Master  Spikeman,  who  hath  fol 
lowed  his  descendant's  fortunes  across  the  sea." 

He  waited  for  no  reply,  such  was  his  impatience  to  see  his 
mistress  ;  but,  preceded  by  Prudence,  hastily  left  the  apartment, 
and  was  ushered  into  the  presence  of  the  young  lady. 

One  who  saw  Eveline  Dunning  would  never  have  wondered 
that  her  lover  had  followed  her  to  the  new  world.  She  was  one 
of  those  charming  beings  who  are  irresistibly  attractive — whom 
to  behold  is  to  love,  and  whose  presence  "  clothes  the  meanest 
thing  in  light."  Her  features  were  regular,  her  complexion  del 
icate  and  brilliant,  her  eyes  blue  and  sparkling,  and  her  hair  of  a 
rich  brown.  Those  blue  eyes  were  commonly  calm  and  soft, 
though  there  were  times  when  they  could  kindle  up  and  flash, 
and  the  full  red  lips  became  compressed,  hinting  at  an  energy  of 
character  which  required  only  circumstances  to  call  it  forth  into 
exercise.  Her  person  was  of  the  ordinary  height,  and  most  per 
fectly  formed,  and  she  moved  with  a  grace  which  only  faultless 
proportions  and  high  breeding  can  impart. 

"  My  Eveline,  my  best  and  my  dearest,"  said  Arundel,  im 
printing  a  kiss  upon  the  blushing  cheek  she  nevertheless  offered 
him,  even  before  the  considerate  Prudence  had  retired,  shutting 
the  door  after  her,  "  how  blessed  am  I,  once  more  to  breathe  the 
air  sweetened  by  thy  breath." 

6* 


138  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

He  led  her  to  a  seat,  and,  retaining  her  hand,  sat  down  by  her 
side. 

"  And  how  dearly  I  love  to  have  thee  near  me,  Miles,"  she 
answered;  "the  perils  I  make  thee  encounter  for  my  sake  too 
plainly  tell." 

"  Nay,  sweet,  the  danger  is  only  in  thy  imagination.  Con 
scious  that  the  right  is  on  our  side,  we  may  defy  Master  Spike- 
man  and  all  his  wicked  devices,  certain  that  we  shall  yet  triumph 
over  them." 

"  Would  that  I  felt  thy  confidence,  but  sometimes  I  am  quite 
sad." 

"Dearest  Eveline,  why  thus  cast  down?"  exclaimed  Arun- 
del,  looking  at  her  anxiously  and  kissing  off  a  tear.  "  Has  anything 
happened  1  What  makes  thee  unhappy  ?  Of  what  art  afraid  ?" 

"  Not  cast  down,  not  unhappy,  not  afraid,  Miles,  but  anxious 
on  thy  account,  and  weary  of  imprisonment.  My  jailer  hath 
lately  dropped  some  threats  respecting  thee  which  have  filled  me 
with  apprehension,  and  it  was  in  consequence  of  my  grief  thereat, 
and  of  something  I  said,  that  Prudence,  without  my  knowledge, 
sent  thee  a  message,  as  she  afterwards  told  me." 

"  And  I  hope  thou  art  not  angry  with  her  for  being  the  cause 
of  my  present  happiness  ?" 

"  I  feel  not  like  chiding  her  or  any  one,"  answered  Eveline, 
smiling,  "  but  would  speak  seriously  during  the  few  moments  we 
are  together.  Oh  !  Miles,  I  have  it  from  a  sure  hand,  (though 
thou  must  not  inquire  thereafter),  that  Master  Spikeman  is  en 
deavoring  to  poison  the  minds  of  the  Governor  and  of  the  Assist 
ants  with  false  reports  against  thee,  such  as  that  thou  art  disaf 
fected  against  the  government.  Oh  !  Miles,  be  prudent ;  for  if 
anything  were  to  happen  to  thee  it  would  make  me  very  un 
happy." 

"The  lying  varlet!  the  cozening  knave!"  exclaimed. the  young 
man,  indignantly.  "  So  this  is  the  way  whereby  he  designs  to  ac- 


THE    KNIGHT   OF   THE    GOLDEN   MELICE.  139 

romplish  his  purpose!  But  I  defy  his  machinations.  I  have  an 
advantage  over  him  whereof  he  knows  not.  " 

"  What  is  that,  Miles?  "  inquired  Eveline,  seeing  that  he  hes 
itated. 

"  He,  whose  the  right  is,  hath  every  advantage  over  him  in 
the  wrong,"  answered  her  lover,  rather  evasively  ;  "  but  would 
that  I  could  persuade  thee  to  cut  the  Gordian  knot  and  put  an 
end  to  this  torturing  suspense,  by  flying  with  me,  and  giving  me  a 
lawful  right  to  be  thy  protector  according  to  the  wishes  of  thy 
father." 

"  Cease,  Miles,  and  do  not  importune  me  in  a  matter  wherein 
the  impulses  of  my  heart  make  me  but  too  ready  to  forget  the 
suggestions  of  prudence." 

" But  how  long  mean  you  to  submit  to  this  unjust  violence?" 

"  I  know  not.  Be  assured,  however,  that  nothing  but  dire 
necessity  shall  induce  me  to  take  a  step,  the  thought  of  which 
burns  my  cheeks  with  blushes." 

"Do  you  distrust  me,  Eveline?"  said  Arundel,  reproachfully. 

"  No  ;  but  it  becomes  Eveline  Dunning  ;  it  becomes  one  whom 
thou  hast  thought  worthy  to  be  sought  for  across  a  stormy  ocean  ; 
it  becomes  the  descendant  of  a  long  line  of  honorable  ancestors ; 
it  becomes  a  woman,  whether  in  the  thickly  peopled  city  or  in 
the  wilderness,  among  strangers  or  with  her  own  kindred,  to  avoid 
even  the  appearance  of  evil.  Much  will  I  endure,  and  long  will 
I  bear  my  thraldom,  before  I  will  allow  the  thought  of  such  a 
mode  of  deliverance  to  harbor  in  my  mind." 

"  My  judgment  tells  me  thou  art  right,  Eveline,  however  much 
my  heart  rebels ;  but  is  there  no  emergency  which  can  make  thee 
cast  off  this  slavery?" 

"  None  such  has  arisen,  and  whatever  difficulties  may  harrass 
me,  I  hope  to  be  equal  to  them." 

"  And  years,  long  years,  may  drag  along  with  weary  feet,  while 
we  are  wasting  our  youth  in  hopeless  sighs  over  the  tyranny  of 


140      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

a  heartless  villain,  lingering  in  this  dreary  land,  where  a  smile  is 
a  vanity  and  a  light  heart  a  crime." 

"  Does  it  pain  thee  so  much,"  inquired  Eveline,  half  reproach 
fully,  "  to  remain  in  the  wilderness  ?" 

"  Nay,  lovely  one,  where  thou  art  is  no  wilderness,  but  a  par 
adise.  Hither  I  came,  attracted  by  the  love  that  binds  my  soul 
to  thine,  and  this  land  will  I  never  leave  alone.  A  cabin  with 
thee  in  these  wilds  were  better  than  a  palace  ungraced  by  thy 
presence," 

"  I  thank  thee,  Miles,  and  thy  words  strengthen  my  courage. 
So  long  as  thou  feelest  thus,  I  cannot  be  unhappy.  But  shouldst 
thou  ever  change ;  shouldst  thou  weary  of  the  delays  and  vexa 
tions  which  thy  love  for  Eveline  Dunning  cloth  impose,  hesitate 
not  to  avow  it,  and  thou  shalt  be  free,  though  my  heart  break  in 
bidding  thee  farewell." 

"  Eveline,  dearest  Eveline,"  cried  her  lover,  catching  her  to  his 
bosom,  "  how  canst  thou  speak  thus  ?  He  who  hath  found  heav 
en  will  never  voluntarily  resign  it." 

But  why  pursue  a  discourse  which  can  have  but  little  interest 
except  for  the  speakers  ?  The  reader  will  suppose  the  further 
conversation  which  would  naturally  take  place  between  two 
young  persons  in  their  situation.  Owing  to  the  vigilance  of 
Spikeman,  it  was  a  long  time  (so  at  least  it  seemed  to  them)  since 
they  had  met,  and  the  interview  was  sweeter  for  that  reason. 
While  the  precious  moments  are  flitting  by  them  unheeded,  let 
us  return  to  Waqua. 

The  Indian  was  so  absorbed  in  the  contemplation  of  the  por 
trait,  that  he  paid  no  attention  to  the  jesting  observation  made 
by  Arundcl  as  he  left  the  room,  but  continued  motionless,  gazing 
fixedly  upon  it.  It  represented  a  man  of  middle  age,  of  a  stern 
and  somewhat  forbidding  countenance,  standing  with  the  open 
palm  of  the  right  hand  thrown  forward,  as  if  he  were  addressing 
the  spectator.  It  was  exceedingly  well  done, — so  graceful  was 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  141 

the  attitude,  so  boldly  stood  out  the  figure,  so  admirable  was  the 
coloring,  so  illusive  the  air  of  life.  It  was  the  first  portrait  that 
Waqua  had  seen,  and  he  very  naturally  mistook  it  for  a  living 
person. 

Seeing,  as  he  supposed,  a  man  with  eyes  fastened  on  him, 
standing  in  an  attitude  soliciting  attention,  and  as  if  only  wait 
ing  until  the  conversation  between  those  who  entered  should 
cease,  to  address  him,  Waqua,  with  instinctive  politeness,  had 
stopped,  and  looking  full  at  the  painting,  awaited  the  speech. 
He  was  somewhat  surprised  and  scandalized,  under  the  circum 
stances,  at  the  garrulity  of  his  companions,  and,  to  confess  the 
truth,  Arundel  sunk  considerably  in  his  estimation.  However, 
he  made  all  allowances  for  the  rude  manners  of  the  whites  and 
differences  of  customs,  though  hardly  restrained  by  such  consider 
ations  from  uttering  a  rebuke  for  the  others'  want  of  respect  to 
age,  and  to  the  master  of  the  house,  for  whom  he  took  the  pic 
ture.  As,  after  Arundel  and  the  girl  left  the  apartment,  the 
figure  remained  standing,  with  eyes  fastened  on  Waqua,  and  his 
hand  continually  extended,  the  Indian,  considering  it  an  invitation 
to  be  seated,  sat  down  in  a  chair.  He  expected  now  to  be  ad 
dressed,  and  modestly  dropping  his  eyes  waited  for  what  should 
be  said.  Thus  sat  Waqua,  until,  surprised  at  the  continued  si 
lence  of  the  other,  he  raised  his  eyes,  and  beheld  him  still  in  the 
same  position,  with  lips  partly  open,  yet  emitting  no  sound.  The 
situation  of  the  Indian  now  became  more  and  more  embarrassing, 
and  he  hesitated  what  course  to  pursue.  Greatly  perplexed,  he 
turned  the  matter  over  and  over,  until  finally  he  reached  the  con 
clusion  that  this  was  a  mode  of  welcome  among  the  white  men, 
and  that  the  politeness  of  the  other  kept  him  silent,  in  order  that 
the  visitor  should  first  take  up  the  word,  in  which  opinion  he 
was  confirmed  by  the  sedate  and  unmoved  expression  of  the  face. 
With  such  a  notion  occupying  his  mind,  he  rose  from  his  seat, 
and  throwing  the  beaver  robe  a  little  off  the  right  shoulder  to 


112  THE   KNIGHT   OF   THE   GOLDEN   MELICE. 

allow  opportunity  for  gesticulation,  he  stood  before  the  picture, 
and  after  a  moment  of  grave  thought  addressed  it. 

"Waqua,"  he  said,  "is  a  young  man,  and  ashamed  to  speak 
first  in  the  presence  of  his  elder ;  but  the  customs  of  the  white 
men  are  very  different  from  those  of  their  red  brethren,  and  per 
haps  among  his  white  brothers  the  young  men  speak  first  that 
their  folly  may  appear.  Because  he  thinks  his  white  brother 
desires  him  to  speak,  he  will  make  a  very  little  speech." 

"The  silent  chief  (so  he  called  the  picture,  not  knowing  what 
other  name  to  use)  knows  that  Waqua  is  a  friend,  because  he  sees 
him  in  company  with  the  white  man  who  went  away  with  the 
chief's  daughter  with  the  strawberry  lips.  Waqua  only  asks 
the  hospitality  of  the  silent  chief,  and  permision  to  remain  in 
his  lodge  till  his  friend  returns." 

Thus  having  spoken,  Waqua  gathered  up  his  robe  upon  his 
shoulder,  and  awaited  a  reply. 

But  in  vain.  Still  the  figure  preserved  silence,  and  maintained 
the  same  immovable  attitude,  gazing  on  him  with  eyes  from  which 
there  was  no  escaping,  and  which  seemed  to  pierce  into  his  soul. 
The  uneasiness  of  Waqua  increased.  He  felt  no  fear,  but  a  con 
fusion  of  thought  which  threatened  to  obscure  entirely  his  facul 
ties.  The  idea  crossed  his  mind  that  the  man  was  dumb,  but  that 
accounted  only  for  the  silence.  Why  the  immobility?  If  he 
were  dumb,  at  least  he  could  walk,  for  well-formed  limbs  were 
visible.  But  the  man  was  quite  still,  not  even  winking,  only 
fastening  his  eyes  steadfastly  on  his  own.  To  the  excited  imag 
ination  of  the  Indian,  the  eyes  began  to  assume  a  deeper  stern 
ness,  and  he  found  it  more  and  more  difficult  to  withdraw  his 
own.  Suddenly,  a  thought  darted  through  his  mind,  which  made 
him  shiver  all  over,  and  spring  from  his  seat.  The  idea  of  fasci 
nation  caused  the  start.  He  had  more  than  once  beheld  the 
black  snake  extended  ori  the  ground,  charming,  -with  his  glittering 
eyes  the  anguished  bird  which,  with  fainter  and  fainter  screams, 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  143 

striving  to  delay  a  fate  it  could  not  escape,  kept  flying  round  and 
round  in  constantly  diminishing  circles,  until  it  fell  into  the  jaws 
of  the  destroyer.  The  same  fatal  influence  he  had  seen  exercised 
upon  rabbits  and  other  small  game,  the  prey  of  the  snake,  and  he 
did  not  doubt  that  a  like  fascination  was  attempted  to  be  prac 
ticed  on  himself,  and  that  the  man  was  a  conjurer.  The  thought 
threw  him  into  a  rage,  and  he  determined  to  take  vengeance  for 
the  insult.  Drawing,  therefore,  his  tomahawk  from  his  girdle 
and  brandishing  it  over  his  head,  he  exclaimed, 

"  Waqua  is  a  warrior,  and  not  a  bird  to  be  made  weak  by  a 
white  medicine." 

But  before  the  enraged  Indian  could  cast  the  weapon  from 
his  hand,  he  felt  his  arm  suddenly  arrested,  and,  turning,  beheld 
the  laughing  face  of  Prudence  Rix. 

"  Stop,  stop  !"  cried  the  girl,  hardly  able  to  speak  for  merri 
ment  ;  "  what  are  you  going  to  do?  It  is  not  a  man,  but  only  a 
painting." 

It  is  not  probable  that  the  Indian  perfectly  comprehended  the 
explanation  of  Prudence,  who,  in  spite  of  her  affected  fears,  had 
been,  without  his  knowledge,  an  amused  spectator  of  his  conduct ; 
but  her  interposition  had  the  effect  to  prevent  any  violence,  espe 
cially,  as  upon  looking  again  at  the  portrait,  he  felt  no  longer  the 
awe  which  had  oppressed  him,  and  therefore  knew  that  the  charm 
had  lost  its  power.  He  lowered  the  tomahawk  to  his  side,  and 
addressed  himself  to  her. 

"  What  white  man  ever  entered  the  wigwam  of  Waqua  and 
was  not  invited  to  a  seat  on  his  mat  1  Who  can  say  that  Waqua 
fastened  his  eyes  on  him  like  a  snake  f 

"But  see,"  said  the  girl,  advancing  to  the  portrait,  and  passing 
her  hand  over  its  surface ;  "  it  is  nothing  but  a  cunning  painting. 
Come  and  satisfy  thyself." 

Waqua  complied,  in  part,  with  Prudence's  invitation,  feeling 
some  contempt  for  a  man  who  would  permit  such  an  indignity ; 


144  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELTCE. 

and  advancing  to  the  picture  regarded  it  with  keen  and  inquisi 
tive  glances.  He  refused,  however,  to  touch  the  figure,  until  Pru 
dence,  taking  his  hand  in  hers,  placed  it  on  the  canvas.  But  no 
sooner  did  he  feel  the  flat  surface,  than,  uttering  a  cry  of  aston 
ishment,  he  leaped  backward,  almost  overturning  Prudence  in 
his  haste,  keeping  his  eyes  on  the  picture,  and  ejaculating  twice 
or  thrice  the  expression,  "  Ugh  !" 

"  What  a  simple  saivage  thou  art,"  exclaimed  Prudence.  "I 
tell  thee  it  cannot  bite.  It  can  neither  hear  nor  see,  and  thou 
art  a  man  to  be  scared  by  it !" 

The  Indian  felt  the  taunt,  conveyed  quite  as  much  in  the  tone 
as  in  the  words,  and  without  replying,  but  as  if  to  show  that  he 
was  above  the  feeling  of  fear,  holding  the  tomahawk  in  one  hand, 
he  passed  the  other  over  the  whole  surface,  as  far  as  he  could 
reach,  winding  up  the  achievement  with  eyes  wild  with  wonder, 
and  snorting  out  divers  astonished  "  ughs !" 


CHAPTER  X. 

"  Burned  Marmion's  swarthy  cheek  like  fire, 
And  shook  his  very  frame  for  ire, 
And—'  this  to  me  !'— he  said." 

MARMIOIT 

AT  this  moment  the  Assistant  Spikeman  entered  the  room. 
His  advance  had  been  so  noiseless  that  it  was  unobserved  by 
either  the  girl  or  the  Indian,  so  entirely  were  they  engrossed  by 
the  adventure  of  the  portrait. 

"  Whom  have  we  here  ?"  he  exclaimed.  "  Methinks,  Pru 
dence,  there  are  other  parts  of  the  dwelling  more  fit  for  such 
visitors." 

"  I  desired  to  see,"  said  the  girl,  evasively,  "  how  a  savage 
would  act  who  never  had  beholden  a  painting.  There  is  no 
great  harm  in  that,"  she  added,  pouting. 

"  And  doubtless  he  mistook  it  for  a  live  man.  Master  Van 
dyke  had  skill,  I  trow,  to  deceive  more  learned  eyes  than  those 
of  a  wild  Indian.  But,  Prudence,  thou  knowest  that  I  mean 
not  to  chide  thee.  Far  different  words  arise  spontaneously  to 
my  lips.  But  go,  now,  and  I  will  pay  the  honors  to  thy  red 
friend." 

"  He  is  no  more  friend  of  mine  than  1  hope  all  the  world  are 
my  friends,"  answered  the  girl,  glad  to  get  away  to  acquaint  the 
lovers  that  Spikeman  was  in  the  house. 


146  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE'  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

"  I  wish,"  she  muttered,  as  she  closed  the  door,  though  not  so 
loud  as  to  be  overheard,  "  that  some  folk  were  not  so  great 
friends  of  mine." 

"  Have  my  people  given  my  friend  anything  to  eat  ?"  inquired 
the  Assistant,  on  the  departure  of  the  girl. 

"  Waqua  is  not  hungry,"  answered  the  Indian.  "  His  white 
brother  has  fed  him  until  he  has  no  place  for  more." 

"What  thinks  Waqua  of  the  painted  man1?"  asked  the  As 
sistant,  observing  that  the  eyes  of  the  savage  wandered  every 
now  and  then  to  the  painting. 

"It  is  a  great  medicine,"  replied  the  Indian,  noticing  with 
admiration  the  resemblance  between  it  and  the  Assistant,  (whose 
father's  portrait  it  was.)  "  My  brother  loved  his  father  very 
much,  and  so,  before  he  was  called  to  the  spirit  land,  my  brother 
put  him  on  a  board,  even  as  white  men  put  faces  in  frozen  water. 
But  my  brother  is  wiser,  because  he  makes  his  father  stay  on  the 
board,  instead  of  disappearing  like  faces  in  frozen  water." 

"  My  brother  is  right,"  said  the  Assistant,  not  unwilling  to 
avail  himself  of  an  opportunity  to  impress  on  the  mind  of  the 
savage  the  superiority  of  the  whites  ;  "  but  he  has  seen  little  of 
the  wisdom  of  the  white  man.  It  is  a  light  thing  to  put  a  man 
upon  a  board,  though  at  the  same  time  he  may  be  in  the  spirit 
land.  It  is  wonderful  to  Waqua,  but  a  white  child  understands 
it.  If  Waqua  remains  the  friend  of  the  white  man,  greater  and 
more  wonderful  things  shall  he  learn." 

"  Waqua  is  an  Indian,  with  an  Indian  head,  and  he  is  afraid 
it  is  not  big  enough  to  hold  all  these  things.  It  makes  his  head 
ache  to  think  of  them." 

"  My  brother's  head  will  grow.  But  will  he  follow  me  now 
into  another  part  of  my  dwelling  ?" 

The  Indian  made  a  gesture  of  assent,  and  the  Assistant  pre 
ceding  him,  the  two  went  in  the  direction  of  the  room  where 
were  Arundel  and  Eveline. 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  147 

Prudence,  when  she  left  Spikeman  and  Waqua  together,  had 
rushed  in  upon  the  lovers  to  apprise  them  of  the  Assistant's 
presence.  The  proud  spirit  of  the  young  man  revolted  somewhat 
at  the  idea  of  stealing  out  of  the  house  like  a  felon,  and  a  little 
time  was  spent  before  the  expostulations  of  Prudence  and  the 
entreaties  of  Eveline  could  prevail.  And  when  he  rose  to  leave, 
some  time  longer  was  consumed  in  tender  leave-takings,  which, 
though  they  seemed  instants  to  the  lovers,  were  lengthened 
almost  into  hours  to  the  anxious  waiting-maid.  Hence  it  hap 
pened  that  when  the  door  was  opened,  Arundel  was  confronted 
by  the  Assistant.  Surprise  and  indignation  were  both  expressed 
in  the  countenance  of  Spikeman,  as  he  demanded  to  what  cir 
cumstance  he  was  indebted  for  the  honor  of  the  young  man's 
company. 

"  Master  Spikeman  knows,"  answered  Arundel,  "  without  any 
averment  on  my  part,  that  I  came  not  to  see  him." 

"  It  needs  no  declaration  of  thine  to  assure  me  of  that,"  said 
Spikeman. 

"  I  do  nought,"  said  Arundel,  "  which  I  will  not  avouch  by 
both  deeds  and  words.  Plainly,  I  came  to  see  Mistress  Eveline 
Dunning,  and  strange  indeed  would  it  be,  were  I  in  this  strange 
land  to  avoid  her  presence." 

"  Speak  out  the  whole  truth,"  said  Spikeman,  with  rising  pas 
sion,  and  avow  that  like  a  thief  thou  didst  steal  in  to  corrupt  the 
affections  of  my  ward,  and  teach  her  undutifulness  to  her  guar 
dian." 

Before  the  young  man  could  reply,  Eveline  interposed. 

"  You  do  Master  Arundel  wrong,  sir,"  she  said,  "  to  charge 
him  with  aught  unbecoming.  He  comes  hither  in  open  day,  and 
that  by  my  special  invitation." 

The  eyes  of  the  spirited  girl  flashed,  and  her  cheeks  were  crim 
son,  as  she  made  the  avowal. 

"  This  from  you,  Eveline  Dunning,"  exclaimed  Spikeman,  with 


148  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE. 

ill-suppressed  rage.  "  Have  you  so  far  forgotten  the  modesty  of 
your  sex  as  to  make  this  declaration  in  public  ?  I  knew  before, 
that  this  boy  had  bewitched  you,  but  dreamed  not  that  he  had 
triumphed  over  all  maidenly  reserve." 

There  was  something  insufferably  insulting,  both  in  the  tone 
and  in  the  insinuation  concealed  in  the  language,  which  was  not 
entirely  understood  by  the  pure  mind  of  Eveline,  but  which  was 
maddening  to  her  lover. 

"  Only  a  base  ingrate  and  liar,"  he  cried,  "  would  slander 
celestial  purity.  Master  Spikeman  knows  that  what  he  utters  is 
false." 

"  Ha  !  darest  thou,  malapert  boy,"  said  Spikeman,  advancing 
to  Arundel  with  his  arm  raised,  as  if  about  to  strike  ;  but  Waqua 
stepped  between  them.  He  had  gravely  listened  to  the  heated 
conversation,  and  supposed  he  understood  its  purport. 

"  Let  not  the  wise  white  man,"  he  said,  addressing  Spikeman, 
"  imitate  a  mad  wolf  in  his  anger.  Give  to  my  brother  for  his 
wife  the  girl  whose  cheeks  are  like  the  summer  morning,  for  her 
heart  has  hid  itself  in  his  bosom." 

The  fury  of  Spikeman,  thus  bearded  in  his  own  house,  was 
now  directed  to  the  savage.  Anger  appeared  to  have  completely 
deprived  him  of  reason,  for  turning  upon  the  Indian  with  glaring 
eyes  and  exerting  his  strength  to  the  utmost,  he  hurled  him  with 
irresistible  force  across  the  room  against  the  wainscot,  where  his 
head  struck  a  post,  and  he  fell  bleeding  on  the  floor. 

Waqua  was  instantly  on  his  feet  again,  and  his  first  motion 
was  to  clutch  the  tomahawk,  but  Arundel  catching  his  arm,  com 
pelled  him  to  desist  from  his  revenge.  Holding  the  savage  by 
the  arm,  Arundel  passed  out  of  the  apartment,  leaving  the  As 
sistant  standing  as  if  petrified  by  his  own  violence,  while  Eveline, 
pale,  yet  resolute,  had  sunk  upon  a  seat,  and  Prudence  was  hys 
terically  shrieking.  As  soon  as  they  stood  in  the  street,  Arundel 
said  : 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  149 

"  I  am  grieved,  Waqua,  that  thou,  on  my  account,  shouldst 
have  been  the  object  of  the  ruffian's  rage,  Its  possibility  oc 
curred  not  to  me." 

"  Let  not  my  brother  grieve,"  said  the  Indian.  "  It  is  nothing ; 
not  so  much  as  the  scratch  of  a  bear's  paw." 

"  I  take  blame  to  myself  for  this  day's  unhappy  violence,  and 
hope  that  no  further  mischief  may  spring  out  of  it.  Will  my 
brother  grant  me  a  favor  ?" 

"  The  ears  of  Waqua  are  open,"  said  the  savage. 

"  Promise  me,  for  my  sake,  to  seek  no  revenge,  but  to  leave  it 
in  my  hands." 

But  the  Indian  looked  moodily  on  the  ground.  "  Waqua,"  he 
said,  "will  kill  his  enemies  himself." 

"  If,"  continued  the  young  man,  "  my  brother  knew  that  an  at 
tempt  to  punish  the  bad  white  man  would  bring  ruin  on  the 
maiden  and  on  me,  would  he  be  willing  to  destroy  them  too  ?" 

"  Waqua  will  do  no  harm  to  his  brother." 

"  Waqua's  heart  and  mine  are  one,  and  he  has  a  wise  head. 
He  sees  that  the  arms  of  the  English  are  very  long,  and  their 
hands  strong,  and  he  will  not  run  into  them,  for  they  will  crush 
him." 

"  My  brother  shall  see  the  inside  of  Waqua.  Let  him  look  up. 
Behold,  the  sun  shines  because  he  is  the  sun,  and  the  wind  stirs 
the  forest  leaves  because  he  is  the  wind,  and  water  runs,  and  fire 
burns,  because  the  Master  of  Life  made  them  thus ;  and  so  the 
Indian  will  never  forgive,  for  then  would  he  cease  to  be  an 
Indian.  But  Waqua  will  do  nought  to  injure  his  brother." 

With  this  unsatisfactory  answer  the  young  man  was  forced  to 
content  himself  as  well  as  he  could,  though  his  mind  misgave 
him  as  to  the  possible  consequences  of  the  insult.  He  trusted, 
however,  that  Spikeman's  knowledge  of  Indian  character  would 
place  him  sufficiently  on  his  guard  to  make  abortive  any  attempts 
against  him,  and  determined  to  keep  a  watchful  eye  upon  hii 


150     THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

wild  companion  for  the  present,  and  until  time  should  have 
blunted  sensibility  to  the  injury.  For  this  reason,  and  in  order 
also  to  counteract,  as  far  as  might  be,  the  effect  of  the  incidents 
at  the  house  of  the  Assistant,  after  purchasing  the  articles  which 
they  came  out  to  procure,  he  took  the  savage  with  him  on  the 
visit  to  the  Governor,  which  he  had  promised  the  knight  to 
make.  Nor  is  this  a  circumstance  that  should  excite  surprise ;  it 
being  the  policy  of  the  colonists  to  cultivate  the  best  understand 
ing  with  the  natives,  to  accomplish  which  object  the  latter  were 
not  only  admitted  into  their  houses,  but  sometimes  even  invited 
by  the  principal  inhabitants  to  seats  at  their  tables.  They 
found  Winthrop  at  home,  and  were  admitted  to  his  presence. 

"  Welcome,  young  friend,"  he  exclaimed,  "  with  England's 
red  rose  still  blooming  in  thy  cheeks  ;  and  a  welcome,  too,  to 
my  Indian  brother/' 

"This,  right  worshipful  sir,"  said  Arundel,  "is  Waqua,  to 
whom  I  owe  my  life,  which  he  saved  this  morning  from  a 
panther." 

"  Ah  !"  said  Winthrop,  ';  one  of  the  hazards  not  uncommon 
in  our  wild-beast-infested  forest,  and  young  blood  is  rash.  But 
relate  to  me  thine  adventure." 

Arundel  was  obliged  to  detail  the  circumstances  of  his  escape, 
which  he  did  with  the  greater  pleasure,  as  contributing  thereby 
to  recommend  his  companion  to  the  favorable  consideration  of 
so  powerful  a  person  as  the  Governor.  At  the  conclusion  of  the 
narrative,  Winthrop  devoutly  said : 

"  The  praise  be  to  Him  to  whom  it  justly  belongs,  and  whose 
unsleeping  Providence  perpetually  watches  over  us.  Yet,"  he 
added,  turning  to  the  Indian,  "  be  not  the  instrument  forgotten 
by  whom  He  manifested  his  favor.  The  life  of  a  white  man 
is  very  precious,  and  Waqua  may  ask  much  because  he  saved  it." 

"  It  is  a  small  thing,"  replied  the  Indian.  "  My  brother  would 
have  killed  the  beast  himself  without  Waqua' s  arrow;  it  only 
saved  him  a  little  trouble." 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  151 

"  How  modest  is  ever  true  merit,  Master  Arundel,"  said  Win- 
throp,  "  and  that  is  noticeable  in  both  civilized  and  savage. 
This  community  of  feeling  doth,  as  I  take  it,  evidence,  in  con 
nection  with  other  matters,  the  truth  revealed  in  the  Scripture, 
(nature  herself  thereunto  bearing  witness,)  that  we  are  descended 
from  one  common  parent,  of  whose  qualities  all  do  partake,  even 
to  the  remotest  generations.  But,  however  desert  may  be  dis 
claimed  by  thy  preserver,  it  were  shame,  morally,  as  also  censura 
ble  in  another  view,  were  I  to  show  myself  no  sense  of  the 
obligation." 

So  saying,  the  Governor  opened  the  desk  before  him,  and 
taking  therefrom  a  medal  attached  to  a  glittering  chain,  presented 
it  to  the  Indian. 

"  Take  it,"  he  said,  "  and  wear  it  in  testimony  that  the  white 
chief  knows  how  to  estimate  thy  service,  and  desires  to  cultivate 
thy  friendship." 

But  the  Indian  held  not  out  his  hand  to  receive  the  proffered 
medal. 

"  Why  dost  hesitate?"  inquired  Winthrop,  in  some  amaze 
ment,  (for  never  had  he  known  before  an  ornament,  of  which  the 
savages  are  usually  so  fond,  refused.)  "  Is  there  aught  else  that 
would  pleasure  thee  more"?  Speak  freely  thy  thoughts." 

"  Waqua  thanks  the  white  chief,"  replied  the  savage,  softly, 
"  but  he  wears  only  one  totem,  and  that  is  one  which  cannot  be 
taken  from  his  neck.  See !" 

So  saying,  he  threw  open  the  folds  of  the  robe  of  skins  that 
covered  his  chest,  and  disclosed  upon  his  naked  bosom  the  picture 
of  a  turtle.  It  was  painted  upon  or  pricked  into  the  skin  in 
divers  colors,  so  as  to  be  indelible,  and  though  rudely  done,  was 
sufficiently  well  executed  to  convey  an  idea  which  could  not  be 
mistaken  of  what  was  intended  to  be  represented. 

"  Waqua,"  he  continued,  "  will  have  but  one  totem,  and  it  is 
that  of  his  ancestors ;  but  if  the  white  chief  desires  to  please 


152  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MEL1CE. 

Waqua,  let  him  recollect  and  teach  his  people  that  the  same 
Great  Spirit  made  red  men  and  white  men,  and  wishes  them  to 
be  brothers." 

The  sagacity  of  Winthrop  penetrated  the  motive  of  the  savage, 
and  Avonder  at  the  refusal  to  accept  the  token  was  lost  in  ad 
miration  of  the  other's  jealousy  of  whatever  might  imply  a  want 
of  exclusive  devotion  to  his  tribe,  or  a  placing  of  himself  in  a 
position  inconsistent  with  perfect  independence.  He  scrutinized 
the  Indian  with  much  more  attention  than  he  had  at  first  be 
stowed  upon  him,  and  fancied  that  in  his  daring  face  he  read  an 
air  of  nobleness  and  command  which  at  first  he  had  not  re 
marked. 

"  It  troubles  me,  Waqua,"  he  said,  "  to  have  thee  refuse  this 
badge  of  my  friendship,  and  which  would  be  a  declaration  to  the 
world  that  thou  wert  my  friend,  and  the  friend  of  the  white 
man,  but  sith  it  may  not  be,  receive  my  promise  that  I  will 
inculcate  the  maxim  on  my  people,  that  we  are  all  descended 
from  the  same  heavenly  father,  and  bound  to  love  and  to  practice 
actions  of  mutual  kindness.  I  were  less,  indeed,  than  Christian 
man  were  I  to  do  otherwise." 

"  And  now  I  have  a  petition  to  proffer  to  your  excellency, 
and  which  lies  very  near  to  my  heart,  and  without  the  granting 
whereof  the  life  saved  by  Waqua  will  be  of  little  value  to  me," 
said  Arundel. 

"  A  thing  of  moment,  indeed  ;  and  with  such  a  consequence 
following  its  rejection,  a  prayer  which  I  cannot  refuse." 

"  It  is  your  reputation,  honored  sir,  for  justice,  which  em 
boldens  me,  who  am  but  a  comparative  stranger,  with  no  further 
claim  to  your  consideration  than  one  man  has  upon  his  fellow  to 
do  him  right,  to  address  you,  and  endeavor  to  secure  your  all- 
powerful  interest  in  my  behalf." 

Here  the  eyes  of  the  Governor  fell  with  an  inquiring  look 
upon  the  Indian,  and  the  mute  appeal  was  understood  by  the 
young  man. 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  153 

"  I  care  not,"  he  said,  unwilling,  by  any  appearance  of  a 
want  of  confidence,  to  hazard  an  interruption  of  the  friendly 
relations  existing  between  himself  and  the  savage,  in  whom  he 
already  felt  a  considerable  interest — "  I  care  not  if  Waqua  hears 
my  story ;  he  is  my  brother  and  may  look  into  my  heart." 

A  gratified  expression  crossed  the  countenance  of  Waqua,  but, 
without  a  remark,  he  rose  from  his  seat,  and,  with  a  delicacy  little 
to  be  expected  among  the  wild  children  of  Nature,  withdrew  to  a 
distant  part  of  the  room. 

"  It  is  better  thus,"  said  the  Governor,  "  if  thy  complaint,  as  I 
partly  suspect,  touch  a  member  of  the  Government.  The  secrets 
of  a  family  should  not  be  blazoned  to  the  world.  Our  little  Com 
monwealth  is  a  family,  and  it  becometh  each  one  tenderly  to 
guard  the  good  repute  of  all." 

"  I  crave  your  Excellency's  pardon,"  said  the  young  man, 
casting  down  his  eyes  at  the  rebuke,  "  for  my  imprudence ;  but 
your  sagacity  has  already  divined  what  forces  me  to  fly  to  you 
for  succor.  It  is  of  the  unjustifiable  conduct  of  the  Assistant 
Spikeman  I  would  speak." 

"  It  is  as  I  supposed.  Something  of  this  have  I  heard,  but  only 
as  flying  gossip,  which  it  were  unmanly  in  any  one  to  heed ;  and 
which,  as  such,  it  were  disgraceful  in  the  ruler  of  a  people  to  re 
gard.  But,  if  the  charge  come,  bearing  upon  itself  an  authentic 
stamp,  it  is  a  different  matter." 

"  The  words  which  I  shall  utter  I  will  avouch  with  my  blood. 
A  great  and  grievous  wrong  hath  been  committed  and  is  continued, 
against  which  both  Heaven  and  earth  cry  out." 

"  It  is  a  heavy  charge,  and  now  to  the  proof." 

Hereupon  Arundel  entered  upon  the  particulars  of  the  breach 
of  faith  on  the  part  of  Spikeman,  and  of  the  restraint  exercised 
by  him  over  Eveline ;  to  all  which  Winthrop  listened  with  pro 
found  attention,  by  neither  word  nor  sign  interrupting  the  narra 
tive.  Upon  its  conclusion,  however,  he  began  in  the  spirit  of 

7 


154  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

the  profession  wherein  he  had  been  educated,  to  ask  questions 
and  urge  objections. 

"Thou  hast  truly,  Master  Arundel,"  he  said,  "made  out  a  case 
of  great  hardship,  if  the  view  taken  by  thee  be  correct  ;  and,  un 
derstand  me,  I  doubt  not  thine  entire  sincerity.  But  what  fur 
ther  testimony  than  that  of  the  young  lady  hastthou,  her  repre 
sentations  being  contradicted  by  Master  Spikeman  ?  " 

"  What !  "  cried  the  young  man,  with  some  warmth,  "  is  not 
the  word  of  Eveline  sufficient  to  outweigh  the  prevarications  of 
a  thousand  tricksters  like  this  Spikeman  ?" 

"  This  is  no  proper  language,"  said  Winthrop,  a  little  sternly, 
"  but  Amor  semper  ccecus"  he  added,  smiling.  "  Thjs  rule  I  take  to 
be  without  exception.  Am  I  to  understand  that  thou  hast  no 
further  proof  f ' 

"  There  is  the  asseveration  of  Eveline  Dunning,  met  only  by 
the  denial  of  the  Assistant  Spikeman,  who  would  deny  every 
truth,  so  only  it  were  necessary  for  his  purpose." 

"  Thou  dost  prejudice  thy  cause  by  want  of  moderation.  It 
seemeth  me,  however,  that  Master  Spikeman  hath  no  necessity 
to  join  issue  with  thee  on  the  facts,  arid  that  a  bare  demurrer 
were  all-sufficient  to  throw  thee  out  of  court.  Forgive  me  for 
inflicting  this  pain,  but  I  do  it  not  without  a  motive,  which  is  to 
possess  thee  fully  of  the  manner  in  which  this  matter  is  viewed 
by  others." 

"There  is  then  no  justice  in  this  land,"  cried  the  young  man. 

"  I  have  thus  far,"  Winthrop  went  o-»  without  heeding  the  ex 
clamation,  "considered  the  case,  under  the  supposition  of  a  denial 
on  the  part  of  Master  Spikeman  (whom  thou  dost  not  deny  to  be 
the  rightly  constituted  guardian  of  Mistress  Dunning)  of  the  facts 
which,  in  thy  opinion,  impose  on  him  a  duty  to  give  thee  his 
ward  in  marriage.  But  suppose,  as  I  have  said,  he  were  to  de 
mur  to  thy  declaration,  that  is  to  say,  admit  the  truth  of  all 
thou  hast  said,  but  deny  that  any  obligation  resulted  therefrom 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  155 

to  comply  with  thy  wishes,  would  thy  condition  be  thereby  bet 
tered  1" 

"  Admitting  the  facts,  I  see  not  how  he  could  do  otherwise 
than  hasten  to  perform  the  desire  of  his  deceased  friend ;  but  this 
he  will  never  do,  forsworn  and  treacherous  that  he  is." 

"  Thus  may  passion  speak,  but  not  so  the  unprejudiced  reason 
concerning  thy  difference  with  Master  Spikeman.  Might  he  not 
reply  to  thy  reproaches— that  it  was  only  when  Master  Dunning 
was  weakened  by  sickness  that  he  did  yield  to  importunity  ;  but 
that  in  the  days  of  unclouded  health,  and  when  the  mind  sat  lik& 
a  king  upon  his  throne,  he  did  steadily  oppose  thy  union  with 
his  daughter,  and  then  ask  thee  which  he  was  in  duty  bound  to 
obey — the  settled  purpose  of  his  friend,  as  demonstrated  by  his 
daily  life  and  conversation,  or  a  chance  word  of  sickness,  perhaps., 
of  delirium  ?  That  Edmund  Dunning  did  at  first,  even  till  his 
death-bed,  deny  thee  his  daughter,  thou  dost  admit ;  and  this  is  a 
weighty  argument,  hard  to  be  overcome  by  a  dying  whisper.  The 
reason  thereof  will  satisfy  most,  for  is  it  not  written,  '  Be  yc 
not  unequally  yoked  with  unbelievers  T  Seest  1hou  not  that  it 
is  only  thyself  who  dost  stand  in  the  way  of  thy  happiness  ? 
Oh !  that  the  light  of  Divine  truth  might  penetrate  thy  mind, 
and  make  thee,  in  all  respects,  worthy  of  the  lovely  lady." 

"Eveline  Dunning  would  despise  rne,  were  I,  even  for  the  sake 
of  her  hand,  to  renounce  the  faith  of  my  fathers." 

"Not  for  the  sake  of  her  hand,  (that  would  be  only  a  collateral 
blessing,)  but  for  other  and  worthier  motives.  Very  precious  and 
encouraging  is  the  promise  in  the  Scripture,  '  Seek  ye  first  the 
kingdom  of  heaven,  and  all  other  things  shall  be  added  unto  you/ 
Doubt  it  not,  and  consider  also  how  sweet  is  the  tie  that  doth  bind 
consenting  hearts  with  one  true  faith — a  faith  consoling  exceed-* 
ingly — a  faith  to  lift  high  above  the  tempests  of  adversity — to 
heal  the  wounds  of  earth,  and  to  be  crowned  with  glory  and  ira* 
mortality  in  heaven," 


156  THE   KNIGHT   OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

"  Were  I  even  to  join  the  congregation,  which,  in  my  present 
way  of  thinking,  I  might  not  do  without  guilt,  Master  Spikeman 
would,  doubtless,  find  means  to  make  vain  my  suit." 

"  Judge  him  not  so  harshly.  What  motive  can  he  have,  other 
than  to  perform  his  duty  to  the  living  and  to  the  dead  ?  Think, 
rather,  that  Providence  hath,  in  its  own  wonderful  way,  deter 
mined  to  lead  thee  by  the  silken  cord  of  thy  affections  unto  grace. 
Be  not  disobedient  unto  the  heavenly  impulse." 

"  I  perceive  that  I  have  failed  in  my  prayer,  and  can  have  no 
hope  of  your  intercession,  honored  sir,"  said  Arundel,  rising,  "  and 
will  therefore  take  my  sorrowful  leave." 

"It  pains  me,"  said  Winthrop,  also  rising,  "that,  under  pres 
ent  circumstances,  I  am  compelled  to  deny  it.  I  may  not  do 
aught  to  contravene  a  resolution  of  the  deceased  Edmund  Dun 
ning,  which  seems  to  have  been  inspired  by  Heaven  ;  but,  the 
cause  of  that  resolution  being  removed,  no  one  will  be  happier  to 
promote  your  purpose.  I  say  this  the  more  cheerfully,  because 
thy  happiness  is  within  reach,  to  be  wisely  seized  or  unwisely  re 
fused." 

"  With  thanks  for  your  Excellency's  good  will,  and  lamenting 
that  it  is  fruitless,  I  will  now  depart." 

Hereupon,  the  young  man  making  a  sign  to  his  companion, 
the  Indian  approached.  The  sight  of  the  latter  seemed  to  sug 
gest  an  idea  to  Winthrop,  for,  turning  to  him,  he  said : 

"  On  the  morrow  I  expect  an  embassy  from  some  of  your  coun* 
trymen,  Waqua.  Will  not  the  chief  remain  to  witness  it  1" 

On  the  quiet  countenance  of  the  Indian  only  an  inquiry  was 
to  be  read. 

"  The  Taranteens,"  said  the  Governor,  in  answer  to  the  look, 
"  desire  to  brighten  the  chain  of  friendship  between  the  white  men 
and  themselves,  and  it  ought  to  give  pleasure  to  a  wise  chief  to 
behold  it." 

"  Waqua  is  a  young  man,"  replied  the  Indian,  "  and  is  not 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  157 

wise  ;  but  he  has  heard  the  old  men  of  his  tribe  say,  that  no  faith 
was  to  be  placed  in  the  word  of  a  Taranteen." 

"  Let  them  beware,"  said  Winthrop,  who,  from  obvious  mo 
tives  of  policy,  adopted  this  tone  in  the  Indian's  presence,  "  how 
they  attempt  to  deceive  me.  The  friendship  of  the  white  man  is 
like  the  blessed  sun,  which  brings  life  and  joy ;  his  enmity,  like 
the  storm-clouds,  charged  with  thunders  and  lightnings." 

"  Listen !"  said  the  Indian,  laying  his  hand  on  the  arm  of  the 
Governor.  "  The  beavers  once  desired  the  friendship  of  the  skunk. 
They  admired  his  black  and  white  hair,  and  thought  his  round, 
bushy  tail,  which  was  different  from  theirs,  very  beautiful ;  so 
they  invited  him  into  their  lodges ;  but  when  he  came,  his  scent 
was  so  bad  that  they  were  all  obliged  to  abandon  them.  The 
Taranteens  are  the  skunk." 

"I  have  no  fear  that  they  will  drive  us  away,"  said  Winthrop, 
with  a  smile.  <;  They  have  every  reason  to  conciliate  our  favor, 
and  we  would  be  at  peace,  if  we  are  permitted,  with  all  men. 
We  came  not  into  these  far  off  regions  to  bring  a  sword,  but  the 
blessings  of  civilization  and  of  the  Gospel." 

"  Waqua  will  come,"  said  the  Indian,  "  but  the  Taranteens  are 
a  skunk.  The  white  chief  will  remember  the  words  of  Waqua, 
and  will  say,  before  many  days,  that  he  spoke  the  truth." 

"  We  know  how  to  deal  with  the  treacherous,"  answered  the 
Governor,  "  but  anticipate  no  evil  now." 

With  these  words,  and,  as  if  striving  by  extraordinary  courtesy 
to  palliate  the  pain  which  he  had  inflicted  on  Arundel,  he  accom 
panied  the  two  to  the  door  of  the  apartment,  where  he  dismissed 
them. 


CHAPTER  XL 


Oh !  he  sits  high  in  all  the  people's  hearts. 

SHAKESPEARE. 


IT  was  evident  that,  so  far  from  anything  being  to  be  expected 
from  the  interposition  of  the  Governor,  he  was  opposed  to  the  mar 
riage  of  Arundel  as  long  as  the  latter  should  remain  outside  of  the 
charmed  circle  of  the  Church — a  full  communion  with  which  was 
necessary,  even  to  the  exercise  of  the  rights  of  a  citizen.  But 
the  young  man  was  incapable  of  deception.  His  ingenuous  mind 
turned,  displeased,  away  from  the  bait  the  wily  Governor  had 
presented ;  and,  dearly  as  he  loved  his  mistress,  he  would  have 
preferred  to  renounce  her  rather  than  play  the  hypocrite  to 
obtain  the  prize.  He  was  not  much  cast  down,  for,  having  sought 
the  interview,  not  from  the  promptings  of  his  own  judgment,  but 
out  of  deference  to  the  wishes  of  the  knight,  he  was  not  greatly 
disappointed.  He  remained  firm  in  the  resolution,  whatever 
might  be  the  risk,  to  release  Eveline  from  the  constraint  exercised 
over  her  by  her  guardian.  Silent,  with  the  Indian  silent  fol 
lowing  in  his  footsteps,  he  returned  to  his  lodgings  to  brood  over 
his  prospects  and  to  devise  schemes. 

The  next  day  was  the  time  fixed  for  receiving  the  Taranteens ; 
and  not  without  interest,  notwithstanding  the  pre-occupation  of 
his  mind3  did  Arundel  look  forward  to  the  event.  Such  deputa- 


160      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

tions  or  embassies  were,  indeed,  not  uncommon,  and  the  young 
man  had  already  been  present  at  more  than  one  occasion  of  the 
kind  ;  but  great  consequence  was  attached  to  the  present,  and 
unusual  preparations  were  made  to  convert  the  ceremony  into  a 
scene  that  should  be  imposing  to  the  imagination  of  the  savages, 
and  forcibly  impress  them  with  an  idea  of  the  power  of  the 
English. 

The  name  Taranteen  was  given  to  the  natives  living  on  the 
banks  of  the  river  Kennebec,  in  the  present  state  of  Maine,  and  em 
braced  a  number  of  tribes,  among  whom  were  those  called  by  the 
French  Abenakis.  They  were  a  fierce  and  proud  race,  and  had 
spread  the  terror  of  their  arms  to  a  wide  distance  from  their  hunt 
ing  grounds.  There  was  a  perpetual  feud  betwixt  them  and  the 
Aberginians,  as  the  Indians  on  Massachusetts  Bay  were  styled, 
who,  in  consequence  of  wars  with  their  northern  neighbors,  as 
well  as  of  the  pestilence  which  had  desolated  their  wigwams,  had 
become  reduced  from  the  condition  of  a  powerful  people  to  com 
parative  insignificance.  These  Taranteens  had,  at  the  beginning 
of  the  settlement  of  the  colony,  occasionally  done  some  mischief, 
descending  their  rivers  in  canoes  in  small  bands,  plundering  the 
cabins  of  exposed  settlers,  and  sometimes  murdering  the  inmates. 
As  the  power  of  the  whites  increased,  and  their  name  became 
more  terrible,  these  forays  had  almost  ceased,  and  in  most  in 
stances  the  colonists  were  able,  in  one  way  and  another,  to  obtain 
satisfaction  for  the  wrongs  committed.  There  was  no  defined 
state  of  hostilities  existing  betwixt  them  and  the  Taranteens,  nor 
could  it  be  said  they  were  strictly  at  peace  with  each  other ;  and 
it  was  felt  that  great  advantages  might  result  from  an  interchange 
of  civilities,  and  a  formal  estabiishment  of  friendly  relations.  The 
efforts  of  Winthrop  and  of  his  council  had  been  for  some  time 
directed  to  this  object,  but  hitherto  they  had  been  frustrated  by 
the  intrigues  of  the  French,  who  found  it  for  their  interest  to  dis 
courage  intercourse  between  the  Taranteens  and  the  colonists,  lest 


THE   KNIGHT   OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  161 

the  lucrative  trade  with  the  former,  of  which  they  enjoyed  the 
monopoly,  might  be  diverted  from  them  entirely,  or  diverted  into 
other  channels.  In  these  exertions  the  French  traders  were  not  a 
little  aided  by  the  Jesuit  missionaries  scattered  among  them,  who 
naturally  favored  their  countrymen,  and  besides  were  afraid  of  the 
spiritual  influence  which  the  heretical  Puritans  might  exercise 
over  their  dusky  neophytes.  For  even  at  that  early  period,  the 
zeal  of  the  Romish  Church  had  penetrated  the  wilds  of  North  as 
well  as  of  South  America,  and  erected  the  sacred  crucifix  where 
before  stood  the  stake  of  the  victim.  Solitudes  which,  until  then, 
had  only  trembled  to  the  horrid  war-whoop,  were  now  tranquil- 
ized  by  the  soft  sounds  of  the  lowly  muttered  mass.  The  ferocity 
of  the  natives  began  to  be  softened,  and  if  not  christianized  *  and 
practising  only  the  outward  ceremonies  of  Christianity,  they  had 
at  least  taken  the  first  step  towards  civilization.  In  this  state  of 
things  a  circumstance  had  occurred,  which  made  abortive  any 
further  opposition  of  the  missionaries  and  traders. 

A  shallop,  or  small  vessel  employed  by  the  colonists  in  fishing, 
had  picked  up  at  sea,  at  a  considerable  distance  from  the  land,  a 
canoe  containing  some  half  a  dozen  Indians,  who  were  on  the 
point  of  perishing  from  hunger.  They  were  Taranteens,  who  had 
probably  ventured  out  too  far  from  the  Main,  and  been  caught  in 
a  storm,  and  swept  out  by  currents,  until  they  lost  all  knowledge 
of  their  situation,  and  had  been  for  some  days  paddling  about  in 
the  fogs,  which  prevail  in  those  latitudes  near  the  coast,  in  a  vain 
attempt  to  retrace  their  course  to  land.  The  starving  wretches 
had  been  taken  on  board  the  shallop,  and  instead  of  being  de 
stroyed  as  they  expected,  had  been  kindly  treated,  and  brought  in 
safety  to  Boston,  where  they  were  presented  to  Winthrop.  The 
Governor,  politic  as  well  as  humane,  seized  the  favorable  oppor 
tunity  to  cultivate  a  better  understanding  than  had  hitherto  ex 
isted  between  his  own  people  and  the  eastern  tribes.  He  was 
completely  successful  in  making  the  impression  he  desired  upon 

7* 


162  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

the  rescued  Taranteens ;  and  when  they  took  their  departure, 
loaded  with  presents,  it  was  with  a  lively  regret  that  they  had  not 
sooner  become  acquainted  with  a  people  so  hospitable  and  gen 
erous.  Among  their  number  was  an  inferior  chief,  endowed  with 
the  gift  of  eloquence,  which  often  exists  in  a  high  degree 
among  the  red  men.  His  eulogies  of  the  colonists  on  his  return 
were  so  glowing,  and  his  representations  were  so  well  confirmed 
by  his  companions,  that  the  exertions  of  the  Frenchmen  Avere 
no  longer  able  to  stifle  their  curiosity  to  know  more  of  their 
neighbors,  especially  as  the  report  of  their  returned  tribes-men 
effectually  contradicted  the  monstrous  fictions  which  had  been 
invented  to  deter  them.  Such  was  the  origin  of  an  embassy 
which  was  a  source  of  fear  to  the  French,  and  of  hope  to  the 
English. 

It  is  not  surprising  that  Winthrop,  thinking  highly  of  the  im 
portance  of  the  occasion,  should  avail  himself  of  all  the  means  at 
hand  to  produce  a  striking  and  imposing  spectacle,  and  that  he 
should  be  seconded,  to  the  best  of  their  ability,  by  the  colonists. 
As  Arundel  walked  along  he  could  observe  indications  of  the  ap 
proaching  ceremonies.  The  roll  of  a  drum,  mingled  with  the 
shriek  of  a  fife,  and  the  blast  of  a  trumpet  was  heard  ;  an  occa 
sional  passenger  either  on  foot  or  horseback,  with  a  musket  on  his 
shoulder,  and  whose  face  was  not  to  be  seen  daily  in  the  streets 
of  the  town,  loitered  on  his  way  ;  the  guard  at  the  door  of  the 
Governor's  house  was  doubled,  more  for  show  than  for  any  other 
purpose,  and  a  greater  number  of  the  assistants  than  usual  was 
to  be  seen.  Several  of  these  gentlemen  lived  in  the  town,  but 
some  resided  on  their  plantations  in  the  neighborhood,  and  came 
to  Boston  only  for  purposes  of  business,  or  diversion,  or  pleasure. 
Several  men  were  also  engaged  in  drawing  a  couple  of  culverins 
to  the  place  of  audience,  which  was  to  be  in  the  open  air.  Waqua, 
as  he  walked  demurely  after  Arundel,  doubtless  noticed  all  that 
was  passing,  but  he  made  no  remark,  nor  through  his  appear- 


THE   KNIGHT   OF   THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  163 

ance  of  indifference  was  the  interest  which   he  really  felt  per 
ceptible. 

When  they  reached  the  inn,  they  found  an  unusual  number  of 
persons  there  collected.  Here  were  to  be  found  not  only  the  cap 
tains  and  inferior  officers  of  the  vessels,  who,  while  in  harbor,  were 
accustomed  to  make  this  a  place  of  resort,  but  divers  colonists 
from  the  country  round,  who,  upon  the  requisition  of  the  Gover 
nor,  had  assembled,  provided  with  military  equipments.  The 
heart  of  the  landlord,  goodman  Nettles,  rejoiced,  and  his  contra 
dictory  face  beamed  with  pleasure,  as,  surveying  the  increasing 
crowd,  he  calculated  what  quantity  of  ale  and  wine  and  victuals 
they  would  put  down  their  throats,  and  how  many  pounds,  shil 
lings,  and  pence,  into  his  own  pocket.  On  such  occasions  the 
large  circle  of  his  benevolence  comprehended  all  mankind — 
Indians  as  well  as  whites.  As  the  two  entered  the  public  room  of 
the  inn,  they  heard  rising  above  the  confused  din  of  voices,  that 
of  Captain  Sparhawk,  who  seemed  objecting  to  the  preparations. 
"  If  they  were  good  Christians,"  he  said,  "  the  sail  would  tit 
better  to  the  yard.  If  they  were  even  your  frog-eating  moun- 

seers,   with  their  popery  and  d d  wooden  shoes,   (' I  hope,' 

he  added,  '  a  man  may  curse  the  Pope,')  I  wouldn't  care  about 
touching  off  a  culverin  or  two  by  way  of  good  fellowship  ;  but  as 
for  these  whooping  red  skins,  it  will  all  be  no  better  than  so  much 
powder  thrown  away." 

"  Canst  not  let  the  Indians  alone,  Captain  f  cried  mine  host. 
"  Ahem !  for  my  part  I  believe  there's  many  a  proper  man  among 
them,  though  'tis  a  grievous  pity,"  he  added,  sighing,  "  that  they 
be'nt  Christians." 

"  Avast,  and  belay  there  with  a  double  turn,  goodman  host," 
exclaimed  the  Captain.  "  Of  what  use  do  ye  think  would  it  be 
to  make  the  red  skins  Christians  ?  Keep  your  weather  eye  open, 
and  tell  us  if  ye  don't  see  breakers  ahead.  Hark  ye !  do  ye  think 
it  would  be  so  very  pleasant  to  have  the  sharks  swim  into  heaven 


164  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  ME  LICE. 

and  go  jumping  and  yelling  round  like  so  many  red  devils  as  they 
are?'' 

"  But,  Captain,  if  divine  grace  once  entered  their  hearts,  they 
would  give  up  all  such  ways,  you  know,"  sighed  the  host. 

"  Tell  that  to  a  landsman,"  answered  the  Captain,  "  and  not 
to  a  man  who  was  with  Jacob  Le  Maire  the  first  time  when  them 
harricanes  that  dances  the  devil's  hornpipe  the  whole  year  round 
Cape  Horn  ever  had  a  chance  to  split  an  English  jib.  (Old 
Jacob — the  Dutch,  do  ye  see,  the  ignorant  beggars,  capsize  it  into 
Yacob), — old  Jacob,  or  Yacob,  as  the  Mynheers  spoil  it,  was  a 
stout  fellow,  if  he  was  a  Dutchman.  Pie  was  like  a  grampus 
when  he  set  his  teeth,  and  a  southwester  couldn't  blow  harder  if 
he  chose.  But  where  away  was  I  when  I  begun  chase  after  old 
Jacob  Le  Maire  ?  Aye,  aye,  here  away  with  Indians  on  the  wea 
ther  bow,  bearing  up  into  heaven.  What  does  the  Scriptures  say, 
goodman  Nettles,  about  an  Ethiopian  changing  his  spots  ?" 

But  mine  host  was  at  the  moment  too  busily  engaged  with  new 
guests  to  attend  to  questions  of  theology. 

"  You're  out  o'  your  reckoning  there,  Captain,"  said  Bill 
Pantry.  "  It  is  a  leopard — a  sort  o'  wild  beast,  as  one  may  say, 
that  finds  it  unhandy  to  get  rid  of  his  spots.  They  are  pricked 
in  by  natur',  I  take^t,  in  a  manner,  with  Indy  ink,  so  that  it  isn't 
scrubbing  will  take  'em  out." 

"  And  why  should  not  an  Ethiopian  have  a  right  to  spots  as 
well  as  a  leopard,  or  yourself,  Bill,  with  a  big  anchor  settling  in 
the  mud,  on  your  right  arm,  and  the  Union  Jack  flying  on  'tother. 
Answer  me  that,  man,  before  you  interrupt  your  superior  officer 
again." 

"  Why,  do  ye  see,  Captain,"  Bill  began. 

But  the  impatient  sailor  waited  for  no  answer  to  his  question, 
for  looking  round,  his  eyes  happened  to  fall  on  Arundel,  with  the 
Indian  near  him,  and  immediately  rising,  he  approached  them. 

"  How  are  ye,  once  more,  my  hearty  ?"  he  inquired,  extending 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELTCE.  165 

his  hand  to  Arundel,  while  he  looked  at  the  Indian.  "  Is  this 
one  of  the  plenipo-po-pothecaries  ?  That's  not  it,  but  it's  as  much 
like  as  children  generally  are  to  their  fathers." 

"  Plenipotentiaries  you  mean,"  answered  the  young  man,  with 
a  smile.  "  No,  this  is  not  a  Taranteen  ;  he  is  one  of  our  own 
Massachusetts  Bay  countrymen." 

"  I  thought,"  said  the  Captain,  "  he  looked  too  young  for  such 
a  line  of  business,  though  he  looms  up  as  grand  as  a  king's  ship. 
But  these  Indians,  if  they  be  heathens,  have  some  wit  as  well  as 
other  folk,  and  they  know  that  older  chaps  are  fitter  for  the  like 
of  this  here  navigation.  Howsoever,  there's  something  that 
pleases  me  in  the  cut  of  your  dark  colored  friend's  jib.  Would 
it  be  asking  too  much  for  the  honor  of  an  introduction  ?" 

"  Captain  Sparhawk,"  said  Arundel,  "  this  is  my  noble  friend 
Waqua,  to  whom  I  am  under  the  greatest  obligations." 

The  Captain  offered  his  hand  to  the  savage,  who,  acquainted 
with  this  custom  of  the  whites,  extended  his  own.  As  for  what 
the  seaman  had  been  saying,  Waqua  had  but  an  imperfect  con 
ception  of  it. 

"Do  ye  see,  Master  Arundel,"  said  the  Captain,  "I  think 
there  is  some  difference  between  the  red  skins  and  the  blacka 
moors.  To  be  sure  they  are  all  heathens,  and  for  that  reason 
not  much  better  than  so  many  big  monkeys ;  and  there's  a  com 
fort  in  that,  do  ye  see,  because  that  gives  us  a  right  to  catch  and 
make  them  do  our  disagreeable  work.  Anyhow,  I've  read  in 
Scripture  that  Ham,  who  was  the  old  ringleader  of  the  niggars, 
was  made  black  on  purpose.  Now,  according  to  my  notion,  these 
red  skins  are  a  sort  o'  cross  betwixt  Ham's  and  Japhet's  children, 
who  were  cousins,  you  know,  for  do  ye  see,  though  they're  dark 
ish,  they  have  got  long  hair  like  us  white  men.  But  come,  let  us 
sit  down  and  splice  the  main  brace  to  better  acquaintance." 

Arundel  accepted  the  invitation  to  a  seat,  for  he  knew  not  how 
better  to  pass  the  time  than  in  watching  the  humors  around  him, 


166  THE   KNIGHT   OF  THE   GOLDEN   HELICE. 

but  declined  participating  in  any  potations.     The  Indian  too, 
much  to  the  surprise  of  the  Captain  and  of  Arundel.  refused  to 
drink,  and  to  the  pressing  entreaties  of  the  former  only  answered, 
"  Waqua  is  not  thirsty." 

"  I  believe,"  said  the  Captain,  peevishly,  "  that  the  bad  man 
ners  of  these  crop  ears  will  spoil  the  very  heathens  themselves  at 
last.  Whoever  heard  of  an  Indian  before  who  refused  drink 
when  he  could  get  it  ?" 

"  Noble  Captain,"  said  Arundel,  "  be  not  offended  at  our 
friend,  who  is  not  accustomed  to  wine,  and  therefore  is  probably 
afraid  of  the  effect  upon  himself ;  nor  with  me,  who  never  could 
bear  more  than  half  a  dozen  glasses,  and  have  already  sufficiently 
indulged." 

"  Well,  if  there  is  anything  I  pray  for  more  than  for  another," 
exclaimed  the  disappointed  Captain,  "  it  is  that  I  may  never  be 
come  a  milksop  (saving  your  presence,  Master  Arundel)." 

"  There  is  not  much  danger  of  that,"  said  the  young  man, 
laughing.  "  But  what  is  the  difficulty  across  the  room  ?" 

A  group  of  some  dozen  persons  had  been  engaged  for  a  consid 
erable  time  in  animated  conversation,  the  tones  of  which  had  gra 
dually  been  growing  louder,  until  at  last  they  could  be  heard 
above  all  other  noises.  As  the  sounds  increased,  the  general  hum. 
of  conversation  died  by  degrees  away,  until  the  whole  interest 
was  centered  in  the  group  above  mentioned. 

"  I  will  stand  by  stout  Capt.  Endicott,"  said  a  strongly  built 
man  in  citizen's  dress,  and  holding  a  musket  in  his  hand,  "  rest 
ing  assured  that  he  does  nothing  without  a  reason,  and  that  his 
conduct  doth  spring  from  a  godly  zeal." 

"  And  I  will  maintain,  in  any  proper  mode,"  replied  an  officer- 
looking  personage,  "  that  it  was  a  deed  insulting  to  his  majesty, 
and  disgraceful  to  a  British  subject.  If  not  treason,  it  is  some 
thing  very  like." 

"  Bethink  you,  Colonel  McMahon,"  said  the  first  speaker,  "  that 


THE   KNIGHT   OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  167 

this  is  not  England.  I  trow  we  left  her  to  but  little  purpose,  if 
we  are  to  enjoy  no  more  liberty  here  than  there." 

"What  kind  of  a  liberty  call  you  that,  Capt.  Larkham,"  de 
manded  the  other,  "  which  authorizes  Endicott,  or  any  other 
man,  to  cut  out  the  cross  from  the  King's  colors  ?  Call  you 
yourselves  loyal  subjects  who  tolerate  such  an  outrage?" 

"  And  by  what  authority,"  retorted  Larkham,  "was  the  Papis 
tical  sign  foisted  into  the  standard  of  England,  except  by  that  of 
the  scarlet  woman,  whose  robes  are  red  with  the  blood  of  the 
saints  ?" 

"  Methinks,"  said  the  Colonel,  "  that  the  flag  which  waved  at 
Cressy  and  Poitiers  deserved  a  better  fate." 

"  I  pray  thee  to  take  to  heart  and  perpend,"  answered  Lark- 
ham,  with  some  solemnity,  "  that  I  will  yield  in  loyalty  to  no 
man,  and  that  the  last  drop  of  blood  I  have  is  at  the  service  of 
my  country.  In  this  matter  a  distinction  is  to  be  taken.  It  was 
not  as  a  contemner  of  the  flag  of  England,  and  of  the  glorious 
memories  connected  therewith  (he  would  deserve  my  dagger  in 
his  heart  if  it  were  so,)  that  Capt.  Endicott  cut  out  the  cross,  but 
as  one  who  is  zealous  against  error.  What !  is  it  reasonable  to 
ask  us  to  march  to  battle  with  the  sign  of  Home  flaunting  over 
our  heads  ?  Shall  we  do  anything  which  may  induce  the  poor 
savages  (whom,  as  I  am  told,  the  emissaries  of  Home  are  de 
luding,  taking  good  care  to  keep  out  of  our  reach)  to  recognize 
her  errors,  and  admit  her  power"?" 

"  Such  scruples,"  said  the  Colonel,  "  neither  you  nor  I  ever 
heard  at  home.  It  required  a  foreign  soil  to  give  birth  to  them," 
and  as  he  uttered  the  word  foreign,  he  threw  an  emphasis  on  it 
which  offended  the  other. 

"  I  shall  entreat  of  your  courtesy,"  said  Larkham,  slowly,  "to 
weigh  well  the  words  which  it  may  be  your  pleasure  to  apply  to 
any  opinions  of  mine.  I  will  resent  any  imputations  upon  the 
loyalty  of  the  colony,  or  upon  mine  own." 


168      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN"  MELICE. 

"  Think  not  to  affect  me  by  any  threats,  sir,"  answered  the 
Colonel,  standing  up,  and  looking  sternly  at  his  opponent.  "  I 
say  that  it  was  the  act  of  a  rebel,  and  will  avouch  my  words 
against  you,  though  the  whole  colony  were  at  your  back." 

The  last  sentence  was  spoken  in  a  defiant  tone,  and  some  mis 
chief  might  have  been  the  consequence,  had  not  Master  Prout, 
who  for  some  time  had  been  listening  to  the  conversation,  placed 
himself  with  his  long  staff  in  hand,  between  the  two,  and  com 
manded  the  peace. 

"  I  pray  ye,  gentlemen,"  he  said,  addressing  them  in  a  manner 
very  different  (as  becoming  their  quality)  from  the  style  he  had 
adopted  toward  Capt.  Sparhawk,  "  to  consider  the  great  scandal 
ye  occasion  by  this  unseemly  altercation.  Who  is  there  doubts 
the  godly  zeal  of  Col.  McMahon,  or  the  loyalty  of  Capt.  Lark- 
ham,  or  the  valor  of  either  ?  There  is  no  cause  of  enmity  be 
twixt  ye,  but  contrariwise  of  peace  and  good  will.  How  sweet 
it  is  for  brethren  to  dwell  together  in  unity  !  It  is  like  the  pre 
cious  oil  that  ran  down  Aaron's  beard,  yea,  even  to  the  skirts  of 
his  garment.  I  pray  ye  to  be  reconciled  one  to  the  other." 

Master  Prout  was  exceedingly  fond  of  hearing  himself  talk,  and 
a  shrewd  man  withal,  he  had  purposely  applied  to  each  gentle 
man  the  quality  in  which  he  was  deficient,  and  spun  out  his 
speech  with  great  deliberation,  in  order  to  give  time  for  the  pas 
sion  of  the  opponents  to  subside.  At  its  conclusion  he  was  start 
led  to  hear  a  voice  just  behind  him  exclaim, 

"  Well  done,  Master  Prout.  A  word  fitly  spoken  is  like  ap 
ples  of  gold  in  pictures  of  silver." 

All  turned  to  the  voice,  and  there  stood  Endicott  himself,  who, 
in  the  height  of  the  interest  excited  by  the  controversy,  had  en 
tered  unobserved,  and  overheard  a  part  of  the  dispute.  There  he 
stood,  with  his  left  hand  caressing  the  tuft  of  hair  on  his  chin, 
looking  grimly  round  him. 

"  Capt.  Larkham,"  he  said,  as  soon  as  the  commotion  occa 
sioned  by  his  sudden  appearance  abated,  "  I  do  appreciate  thy 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  169 

well  meaning  love,  but  hold  it  an  unprofitable  thing  to  engage  in 
debates  which  can  lead  to  no  useful  results.  What  I  have  done, 
I  have  done,  and  that  not  in  the  inconsiderate  heat  of  youthful 
blood,  but  with  the  thoughtful  deliberation  that  becometh  man 
hood.  If  there  be  any  who  impeach  the  deed,  they  do  it  ignorantly, 
as  not  understanding  the  meaning  or  bearing  thereof." 

"  I  impeach  it,"  cried  the  impetuous  Colonel,  "  and  shame  it 
is  that  so  unsoldierly  and  disloyal  an  act  should  pass  unpunished.'* 

Here  Master  Prout  advanced,  first  looking  at  Endicott  for  ap 
proval,  as  if  about  to  arrest  the  audacious  speaker. 

"  Nay,  good  Master  Prout,  by  thy  leave  I  desire  no  offices  of 
thine,"  said  Endicott,  putting  him  aside.  "  I  might,  with  jus 
tice,  take  offence  at  thy  language,  which  is  harsh,"  he  continued, 
addressing  the  Colonel ;  "  but  I  will  not,  seeing  that  it  springs 
out  of  an  honorable  but  misguided  apprehension  of  the  matter. 
Is  it  possible  that  a  gentleman  of  Col.  McMahon's  intelligence, 
and  whose  spirit  hath  been  enlightened  to  see  the  truth,  even  to 
casting  in  his  lot  with  ours,  should  condemn  an  act  which  me- 
seems  ought  to  command  his  sanction  ?  Had  it  been  told  me  by 
another,  I  would  have  disbelieved  what  but  now  mine  own  ears 
have  heard." 

"  I  repeat,"  said  the  Colonel,  "  it  appears  to  me  no  better  than 
treason." 

"  If  thou  dost  esteem  me  a  traitor,  step  forward  and  arrest  me 
in  the  King's  name.  But  no ;  surely  thou  dost  speak  hastily. 
For  the  sake  of  the  respect  I  feel  for  thee,  I  will  explain  the 
motives  of  my  conduct.  Not  from  any  disrespect  to  King  Charles ; 
not  because  I  honor  not  the.  flag  of  my  country ;  but  because  I 
owe  a  higher  allegiance,  even  to  the  King  of  kings,. cut  I  out  the 
sign  of  Papistical  idolatry ;  not  as  designing  to  be  deficient  in  any 
earthly  duty,  but  as  intending  to  make  known  to  the  world  my  pro 
test,  and,  as  far  as  may  be,  the  protest  of  this  godly  colony  against 
a  corrupt  church,  which  is  no  church  ;  and  against  all,  though 


170  THE    KNIGHT   OP   THE    GOLDEN   MELICE. 

not  calling  themselves  of  her  communion,  who  drink  of  the  cup 
of  her  abominations,  desired  I  to  remove  from  before  our  eyes 
that  which,  whenever  beheld,  only  reminded  us  of  a  damning  de 
lusion  and  daily  oppression.  If  this  were  sin,  then  have  I  sinned ; 
but  I  will  abide  the  consequences  without  flinching,  whether  in 
this  world  or  in  the  world  to  come." 

A  deep,  stern  murrnur  ran  round  the  room,  and  it  was  evi 
dent,  from  the  countenances  of  the  company  and  from  the  expres 
sions  that  could  now  and  then  be  caught,  that  by  far  the  greater 
part  of  them  entertained  the  sentiments  of  the  audacious  sectary. 
Such,  it  is  highly  probable,  were  the  sentiments  of  a  majority  of  the 
government  of  the  colony,  notwithstanding  their  disavowal,  after 
wards,  of  all  sympathy  with  the  act,  and  public  censure  of  the  bold 
Puritan.  Not  that  a  democratical  feeling  lurked  therein,  as  some 
may  fancy,  but  for  the  very  reasons  manfully  proclaimed  by  Endi- 
cott — reasons,  not  of  a  political,  but  entirely  of  a  religious  char 
acter. 

Endicott,  a  sagacious  and  daring  politician,  as  well  as  zealous 
religionist,  heard  the  sounds  and  beheld  the  faces  of  those  around 
him  with  satisfaction.  It  pleased  him  publicly  to  vindicate  his 
conduct,  and  to  test  the  feelings  of  his  countrymen. 

"  Thou  nearest,"  he  resumed,  "  those  sounds  and  seest  these 
faces,  and  dost  tliou  believe  that  all  these  men  are  also  disloyal  ? 
Review  thy  judgment,  I  pray  thee,  and  believe  that  attachment 
to  the  Crown  may  not  be  inconsistent  with  hatred  of  Papistical 
baubles." 

Capt.  Endicott  will  find  it  difficult,  in  my  judgment,  to  satisfy 
the  Privy  Council  of  the  propriety  of  the  outrage,  as  easily  as  he 
has  satisfied  himself  and  these  people,"  replied  Col.  McMahon. 

"  Be  assured,"  replied  Endicott,  "  that  whether  here  or  in  Eng 
land — before  the  Court  of  Assistants  or  the  Privy  Council,  I  will 
avouch  the  deed,  even  though  it  should  build  the  steps  to  a  scaf 
fold." 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE,  171 

So  saying,  and  looking  deliberately  around,  and  with  an  incli 
nation  of  the  body,  which  hardly  amounted  to  a  bow,  he  placed 
upon  his  head  the  slouched  hat  he  had  taken  off  on  his  entrance, 
and  left  the  apartment.  Upon  his  departure,  the  company  be 
came  broken  up  again  into  various  groups,  and  began  once  more 
to  busy  themselves  with  the  mugs  and  cans ;  and  Arundel,  tired 
of  the  confusion,  Ieft5  with  Waqua,  for  his  own  chamber. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Alas  !  for  them,  their  day  is  o'er, 
Their  fires  are  out  frcm  shore  to  shore, 
No  more  for  them  the  wild  deer  bounds^* 
The  plough  is  on  their  hunting  grounds. 

SPHAGUE. 

WHEN  Arundel  awoke  the  next  morning,  he  found  that  the 
Indian,  who  had  coiled  himself  upon  the  floor  and  there  passed 
the  night,  was  nowhere  to  be  seen.  It  was,  indeed,  no  wonder, 
since  the  rays  of  the  sun  had,  for  more  than  an  hour,  been  striv 
ing  to  penetrate  the  oiled  paper,  which  served  instead  of  window 
glass  ;  and  no  sooner  did  the  young  man  realize  the  lateness  of 
the  hour  than  he  sprang  from  his  couch,  thinking  all  the  while 
what  Waqua  would  say  to  his  dilatoriness.  After  making  a 
hasty  toilette,  he  descended  the  stairs,  and,  crossing  the  public 
room  to  the  door,  looked  out  upon  the  street.  There  was  quite 
a  number  of  persons  passing  backward  and  forward,  many  of 
whom  were  dressed  in  the  accoutrements  of  soldiers,  and  at  these 
he  stood  gazing  awhile  and  looking  round,  if  perchance  he  might 
discover  anything  of  the  Indian.  But,  as  he  did  not  appear,  the 
young  man  turned  back  to  await  his  coming. 

Hour  after  hour  passed  away,  but  Waqua  returned  not ;  and 
Arundel  began  to  fear  that  his  companion  had  taken  some  offence, 
either  at  himself,  or  at  what  had  occurred  the  evening  previous. 
He  ransacked  his  memory,  for  the  purpose  of  discovering  if  he 


174  THE   KNIGHT   OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

had  said  or  done  anything  to  which  exception  could  be  taken,  or 
had  omitted  any  courtesy  or  attention  ;  but  he  could  find  nothing 
to  reproach  himself  with.  He  was  unable  to  believe  that  Waqua 
would  steal  away  without  formally  taking  leave,  on  account  of 
any  slight  or  impertinence  from  another,  after  the  command  of 
himself  he  had  exhibited  following  the  violence  of  Spikeman  5. 
and,  finally,  tried  to  avoid  thinking  of  the  subject,  expecting  that 
the  truant  would  turn  up  at  some  time  during  the  day,  and  ex 
plain  his  absence. 

Meanwhile,  it  was  understood  that  the  expected  deputation  of 
the  Taranteens  had  arrived,  and  been  received  at  the  house  of 
the  Governor.  Armed  men  had  been  constantly  coming  inta 
town  ;  their  wives  and  children,  in  some  instances,  accompanying 
them;  until  the  settlement  had  become  a  scene  of  gay  and  ani 
mated  confusion.  The  place  fixed  upon  for  the  reception  of  the 
ambassadors  (there  being  no  building  sufficiently  large  to  contain 
the  number  present,  and  who  were  anxious  to  witness  the  cere 
mony)  was  an  elevation  near  the  village,  commanding  a  view  of 
the  buildings,  of  the  green  rolling  bay,  and  of  the  ships  tossing 
on  its  waves.  Here,  under  the  shade  of  a  patriarchal  elm,  spread 
ing  like  an  umbrella  its  immense  and  gracefully  drooping  branches 
over  a  wide  extent  of  green  turf,  Winthrop  was  to  give  public 
audience  to  the  dusky  delegates. 

The  hour  for  the  reception  had  nearly  arrived,  when  Arundel 
strolled  to  the  place  appointed.  He  found  it  covered  with  a 
crowd  of  five  or  six  hundred  persons,  including  the  women  and 
children.  The  number  of  armed  men  might  have  been  two-thirds 
of  the  whole.  The  women  were  gossipping  together,  and  the 
children  amusing  themselves  in  sports  becoming  their  age,  while 
the  soldiers  were  ranged  in  double  files,  extending  from  a  large 
chair  or  kind  of  throne  placed  near  the  body  of  the  tree,  thus- 
forming  a  lane,  only  by  .passing  through  which  could  access  be 
had  to  it.  The  spot  where  the  chair  was  placed  was  covered  to 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEfr  MLLICE.  175 

some  little  distance  around  with  scarlet  cloth — the  chair  itself  as 
.representative  of  majesty,  with  eloth  of  gold — 'and  on  either  side 
stood  grimly  a  culverin  or  small  cannon,  capable  of  carrying  a 
ball  of  seventeen  or  eighteen  pounds  in  weight — silent,  but  elo 
quent  orators,  to  convince  of  the  ability  of  him  who  might  oc 
cupy  the  seat  to  enforce  his  words.  Other  chairs,  to  the  num 
ber  of  perhaps  twenty,  were  ranged  in  a  semi-circle  on  either 
side  of  the  seat  intended  for  Winthrop  ;  while  against  the  body 
of  the  tree  were  leaned  partisans  and  halberds  ;  and  it  was  hung 
about  on  nails  driven  in  for  the  occasion,  with  shining  corslets, 
and  swords,  and  daggers, 

Arundel  had  barely  time  to  run  his  eyes  over  the  preparations, 
when  a  salvo  of  cannon  announced  that  the  Governor  was  start 
ing  from  his  house,  and  presently  appeared  the  procession,  pre 
ceded  by  martial  music.  First  came  the  musicians,  whose  num 
ber  it  must  be  confessed  was  not  very  large  ;  next  followed  twenty 
stout  men  bearing  halberds  or  staves  of  about  five  feet  in  length, 
finished  off  at  the  end  with  a  steel  head  in  the  shape  of  an  axe  ; 
immediately  after  these  marched  the  Governor,  attended  by  his 
Council  of  Assistants,  all  wearing  swords  at  their  sides,  and  sev- 
ral  "ministers;"  after  whom  followed  the  Taranteen  embassy, 
consisting  of  about  a  dozen  noble  looking  Indians  of  various  ages, 
from  thirty  to  seventy  ;  and  the  whole  was  closed  by  two  or  three 
hundred  men,  completely  armed  with  both  the  offensive  and  de 
fensive  arms  of  the  period.  The  steeple-crowned  hats,  the  slashed 
sleeves,  the  red  stockings,  russet  boots,  and  rosettes  on  the  shoes, 
made  a  combination  which,  if  it  would  be  quaint  and  grotesque 
in  our  eyes,  was  striking  to  those  who  witnessed  it. 

As  the  procession  came  nearer,  Arundel  could  see  among  those 
in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  Winthrop,  the  Knight  of  the 
Golden  Melice,  conspicuous  for  the  richness  of  his  habiliments, 
adopted  either  to  heighten  the  general  effect  of  the  ceremonial, 
or  to  increase  his  authority  with  the  Indians,  over  some  tribes  of 


176  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE. 

whom  it  was  known  that  he  possessed  considerable  influence.  The 
night,  indeed,  well  understood  how  much  manner  and  external 
adornment  affect  not  only  the  savage  but  the  civilized  man.  A 
perfect  master  of  the  former,  he  was  uniformly  courteous.  No 
frown  ever  deformed  his  face,  nor  even  wrinkle  ruffled  its  placid 
surface,  on  which  was  stamped  the  expression  of  a  sweet  and  con 
fiding  nature ;  and,  when  circumstances  required,  he  knew  how 
to  resort  to  the  latter  with  an  effect  which  seldom  failed  of  achiev 
ing  its  purpose. 

When  the  procession  reached  the  files  extending  from  the 
throne,  the  soldiery  composing  them  presented  arms,  and  the 
musicians  stepping  on  one  side,  the  Governor,  preceded  by  his  hal- 
badiers,  and  accompanied  by  the  Knight,  his  Council,  and  the  In 
dians,  walked  between,  and  seated  himself  on  the  chair  of  State, 
while  those  who  were  with  him  occupied  the  other  seats,  and  the 
halbadiers  posted  themselves  around. 

As  Winthrop  took  his  place,  the  ranks  in  front  were  further 
opened,  and  the  two  culverins  belched  out  with  fire  and  smoke  a 
loud  and  sudden  welcome.  So  near  were  the  Indians  to  the  guns, 
and  so  unexpected  to  them  was  the  discharge,  that  some  of  the 
younger  sprung  to  their  feet,  as  if  to  repel  an  attack,  dropping 
again  into  their  places  with  abashed  looks,  as  their  eyes  met  the 
reproving  glances  of  their  elders. 

Arundel,  at  this  moment,  felt  a  hand  upon  his  shoulder,  and 
turning  round,  beheld  Waqua.  He  was  instantly  struck  with  the 
changed  appearance  of  the  Indian.  Instead  of  the  few  dashes 
of  paint  of  the  day  before,  exactly  one-half  of  those  portions  of 
his  face  and  person,  which  were  visible,  beginning  at  the  top  of 
the  forehead,  and  descending  down  the  middle  of  the  nose,  was 
painted  with  bright  vermillion,  the  other  half  remaining  of  its 
natural  color ;  his  hair  was  gathered  carefully  up  into  a  knot  on 
the  top  of  his  head,  and  bore  a  single  eagle's  feather,  and  in  ad 
dition  to  the  light  tomahawk  which  he  had  worn  before,  a  heav 
ier  one  was  hanging  at  his  girdle. 


THE    KNIGHT    OF   THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  177 

"  Welcome,  my  brother,  exclaimed  Arundel,  I  did  not  know 
but  that  I  had  lost  thee.  Where  hast  thou  been,  and  what  means 
the  change  in  thy  appearance?" 

"  The  great  white  chief  invited  Waqua  to  listen  to  his  talk  with 
the  Taranteens,  (may  the  wolf  crunch  their  bones,)  and  Waqua 
is  here.  He  has  painted  himself  according  to  the  custom  of  his 
tribe.  This  (touching  the  paint)  is  for  my  enemies,  and  this  (in 
like  manner  touching  the  unpainted  portion)  is  for  my  friends." 

Arundel  remembering  the  strong  expressions  of  dislike  towards 
the  Taranteens  which  fell  from  the  Indian  the  day  before,  and 
connecting  them  with  his  present  preparation,  felt  some  appre 
hension  for  what  might  happen  from  his  boldly  uttered  aversion, 
and  determined  to  keep  close  by  him,  in  order  to  restrain  him 
from  imprudences,  and  to  protect  him,  if  need  should  arise,  from 
danger.  He  took  care,  therefore,  during  the  rest  of  the  day,  to 
carry  Waqua  with  him  wherever  he  moved,  or  to  follow  the  In 
dian,  when  the  latter's  curiosity  tempted  him  into  different  parts 
of  the  assemblage. 

It  was  seldom,  if  ever,  that  the  Puritans  undertook  anything 
of  importance,  either  of  a  private  or  public  character,  without  in 
voking  the  blessing  and  guidance  of  a  superior  power.  There 
was  good  policy  as  well  as  piety  in  the  practice;  for  by  admitting 
the  ministers  into  their  councils,  and  giving  them  conspicuous 
parts  to  perform  therein,  the  magistrates  secured  their  good  will 
and  powerful  influence  with  the  people  ;  and,  indeed,  it  may  well 
be  imagined,  that  this  spiritual  aid  in  a  theocratical  commonwealth 
was  a  part  of  the  system.  On  the  present  occasion,  the  whole 
assembly  rose  at  a  signal  from  Winthrop,  and  Mr.  Eliot,  after 
wards  known  as  the  Indian  Apostle,  asked  for  a  blessing.  The 
prayer  was  like  the  man  himself,  earnest  and  simple,  and  listened 
to  with  a  tixed  attention,  that  indicated  the  religious  reverence  of 
the  hardy  men  who  were  gathered  around.  The  Taranteens 
themselves,  following  the  example  of  the  others,  stood  up  and 
fastened  their  eyes  intently  on  the  speaker,  as  if,  though  not  un- 

8 


178  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE. 

derstanding  a  word  he  uttered,  they  expected  to  gather  some 
meaning  from  the  motion  of  his  lips. 

When  the  prayer  was  ended,  Gov.  Winthrop  rose,  and  request 
ing  Mr.  Eliot  (who  was  sufficiently  familiar  with  the  Algonquin 
language  to  make  himself  understood  in  it)  to  interpret,  he  com 
menced  an  oration  to  the  ambassadors,  each  sentence,  as  it  was 
spoken,  being  translated  by  Mr.  Eliot. 

Confining  himself  to  such  ideas  as  he  thought  would  be  most 
appreciable  by  the  rude  intellects  of  the  forest  children,  he  began 
by  expressing  his  pleasure  at  the  visit,  and  at  the  pacific  spirit 
which  was  manifested  by  his  red  brethren.  He  spoke  of  the  hap 
piness  of  himself  and  of  his  people  in  being  able  to  succor  the 
storm-tossed  Taranteens,  and  of  their  readiness  to  extend  kind 
ness  to  the  whole  nation.  He  pointed  out  the  reciprocal  advan 
tages  which  would  result  from  the  establishment  of  trade  between 
them,  each  parting  with  what  he  valued  less  for  what  he  desired 
more.  He  dwelt  upon  the  vast  power  of  his  own  nation,  living 
beyond  the  sea,  toward  the  rising  sun,  and  riding  in  safety  at 
pleasure  over  the  mighty  waves,  in  great  canoes  with  wings,  some 
of  which  were  in  sight.  He  adverted  to  the  pestilence  whieh  had 
swept  the  land  just  previous  to  the  coming  of  the  whites,  hinting 
that  it  was  the  breath  of  the  great  Spirit  which  destroyed  the  in 
habitants,  to  make  room  for  his  more  favored  people.  He  con 
cluded  by  saying,  that  they  were  all  children  of  the  same  parent, 
who  was  most  pleased  at  seeing  them  living  together  in  harmony. 

It  was  impossible  to  judge,  from  the  countenances  or  manner 
of  the  Indians,  how  they  were  affected  by  the  speech, — only  the 
gutteral  "  ugh,"  responding  from  time  to  time  to  the  translation  of 
Mr.  Eliot.  This  was  designed  as  a  sign  of  attention,  or  of  ap 
proval,  or  the  contrary,  but  it  was  difficult  to  the  English  to  de 
termine  in  any  case  which.  In  fact,  like  skilful  diplomatists, 
the  ambassadors  preserved  their  dignity,  and  concealed  their  feel 
ings. 

When  the  Governor  had  resumed  his  seat,  one  of  the  oldest 


THE   KNIGHT  OF   THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  179 

Indians,  after  a  considerable  pause,  rose,  and  stepping  forward  a 
few  feet,  so  as  to  separate  himself  from  all  around,  turned  his  face 
to  Wmthrop,  and  began  a  speech  in  return.  It  was  pronounced 
with  great  deliberation,  and  rendered  into  English  by  the  inter 
preter,  as  the  orator  proceeded. 

"  The  Taranteens,"  he  said,  "  are  a  great  nation,  who  having 
heard  that  a  people  of  the  same  color,  but  speaking  a  different 
language  from  their  friends  the  French,  had  taken  possession  of 
the  country  of  the  Aberginians,  had  sent  him  and  his  companions, 
that  with  their  own  eyes  they  might  see,  and  with  their  own  ears 
might  hear,  if  what  had  been  told  them  was  the  truth.  Besides, 
they  desired  to  return  thanks  for  the  kindness  shown  to  their 
countrymen,  which  they  would  not  forget.  "  Let  this  belt,"  said 
the  orator,  taking  a  piece  of  wampompeag  from  the  hands  of  one 
of  his  companions,  and  laying  it  on  the  ground,  "  preserve  my  words. 
It  is  very  pleasant,"  he  continued,  "  to  plant  the  tree  of  peace. 
May  the  sapling  which  we  shall  plant  to-day  become  a  bigger 
tree  than  the  great  elm  under  which  we  are  assembled,  and  may 
we,  for  many  seasons,  dance  together  in  its  shade.  The  Taran 
teens  are  a  great  people ;  they  have  many  warriors,  and  big 
canoes,  and  are  so  strong,  that  when  they  talk  of  peace,  it  is  not 
so  much  for  themselves  as  for  the  sake  of  others  ;  and  as  my  white 
brother  hath  said,  hath  not  the  Great  Spirit  made  all  men,  and 
doth  he  not  love  to  see  them  playing  like  children  in  the  grass  *? 

"  Now  let  my  white  brothers  open  wide  their  ears,  for  I  am 
going  to  say  a  thing  which  much  concerns  them  and  us.  We 
have  heard  that  our  white  brothers  are  very  fond  of  land,  and 
that  if  we  make  friends  with  them  they  will  try  to  steal  away  our 
land.  We  care  not  if  they  take  all  the  land  of  the  Aberginians, 
but  they  must  not  think  to  have  any  part  of  our  hunting  grounds. 
We  want  them  all  for  the  game  to  run  in.  These  two  black 
belts  preserve  my  words. 

"  But  the  Taranteens  are  a  great  people,  and  know  how  to 
defend  themselves,  and  if  Owanux  attempt  to  dispossess  them, 


180  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN   MELICE. 

there  will  be  talk  of  taking  scalps.  These  three  red  belts  preserve 
my  words. 

"  My  brothers,  Owanux  will  recollect  that  if  the  Great  Spirit 
was  offended  with  the  Aberginians,  and  breathed  a  hot  breath 
upon  them  and  so  they  died,  he  smiles  upon  the  Taranteens  and 
increases  their  number,  and  makes  sharp  the  points  of  their  ar 
rows,  and  directs  their  tomahawks,  and  subdues  all  the  tribes 
around  unto  them.  These  two  belts  preserve  my  words. 

"  As  for  trade,  the  Taranteens  enjoy  already  a  good  trade  with 
their  friends  and  allies  the  French  ;  but  if  they  have  anything 
which  their  brothers  Owanux  want,  they  will  not  refuse  to  ex 
change  with  them.  This  one  belt  preserve  my  words." 

Having  thus  spoken,  and  been  greeted  from  time  to  time  with 
an  ejaculation  from  his  companions,  the  old  warrior  resumed  his 
seat,  amid  a  shower  of  "  ughs." 

He  was  replied  to,  at  the  request  of  Winthrop,  by  Eliot  him 
self,  who  gladly  seized  the  opportunity  to  disabuse  the  Indians  of 
any  prejudices  that  might  have  tainted  their  minds,  and  to  open 
them  for  the  reception  of  that  Christianity  which  he  had  so  much 
at  heart. 

"It  was  on  account  of  the  wickedness  of  the  Aberginians,"  he 
said,  "  that  they  were  swept  off  from  the  face  of  the  land,  and  it 
was  not  merely  for  the  purpose  of  trade  that  Owanux  or  the  Eng 
lish  had  been  sent  by  the  Great  Spirit  to  take  their  places.  If 
the  English  became  wicked,  they,  also,  would  be  destroyed  in  like 
manner,  and  so  would  all  who  should  imitate  them.  But  the 
English  were  sent  to  the  Indians  with  a  message  which  was  not 
painted  on  bark  or  handed  down  with  pieces  of  wam-pom-peag? 
but  put  into  a  book  whence  it  spoke  always  the  same  words,  and 
they  were  those  which  the  Great  Spirit  himself  had  spoken  with 
his  own  voice.  The  message  was  to  make  them  better  and  hap 
pier  ;  and,  he  hoped,  that  they  would  allow  him,  at  another  time? 
to  tell  it  to  them.  He  heard  with  great  pleasure,  and  so  did  the 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.      181 

Governor,  how  much  they  loved  peace.  The  English  loved  peace 
too,  and  would  water  the  young  tree  they  should  plant  that  day, 
and  fence  it  round,  so  that  no  bear  or  other  wild  animal  should 
trample  upon  it  while  it  was  small.  The  Great  Spirit  said  in  the 
wise  book  which  He  had  given  to  the  English,  that  He  loved 
peace ;  and  contained  many  things,  besides,  which  it  would  be 
useful  and  pleasant  for  the  Indians  to  know.  The  book  was 
called  Good  Tidings ;  and  he  hoped  that  it  would  rejoice  the 
hearts  of  his  Indian  friends." 

When  Eliot  had  ended,  another  Indian  arose,  and  said  :  "  That 
their  friends,  the  long  "robes,  among  the  French,  had  als-o  books, 
and  he  had  seen  them  ;  but  he  had  never  seen  a  book  which  could 
speak  the  Indian  language.  He  thought  if  the  Great  Spirit  had  a 
message  in  a  book  for  them,  it  would  be  in  the  Indian  language, 
and  ihat  the  Great  Spirit  would  teach  the  Indians  how  to  read  it. 
He  hoped  his  white  brothers  would  not  be  offended  if  he  said? 
that  he  should  doubt  whether  the  Great  Spirit  had  a  message  for 
them  in  a  book,  until  he  saw  the  book  itself  and  heard  it  talk 
Indian.  That  was  all  he  had  to  say." 

It  was  then  that  Eliot  formed  the  resolution,  by  God's  grace, 
to  translate  the  Bible  into  the  language  of  the  Indians,  a  work  to 
which  he  devoted  so  many  years  of  his  life,  and  which,  in  con 
nection  with  his  unwearied  labor  of  love  among  the  natives,  con 
ferred  upon  him  the  honorable  and  well-merited  title  of  "  The 
Apostle  of  the  Indians." 

Various  speeches  were  made  after  this,  on  both  sides,  of  which 
it  is  necessary  for  our  purpose  to  record  only  one.  This  was 
made  by  one  of  the  youngest  and  finest  looking  of  the  Taranteens. 
His  roving  eyes,  in  wandering  over  the  assemblage,  had  detected 
the  figure  of  Waqua  ;  and,  as  they  fell  on  him,  they  lighted  up 
with  an  ominous  gleam.  He  directed  the  attention  of  the  Indian 
next  to  him,  a  young  man  like  himself,  to  the  discovery,  who 
seemed  in  like  manner  disturbed.  The  two  fastened  their  eyes 


182  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

full  on  Waqua,  but  their  gaze  was  returned  by  him  with  a  look 
as  bold  and  stern  as  theirs.  At  the  first  opportunity,  the  one 
who  had  first  observed  Waqua  rose  and  spoke. 

"  Pieskaret,"  he  said,  "is  a  young  man,  but  this  is  not  the  first 
time  his  nation  has  thought  him  worthy  to  speak  in  her  councils, 
and  the  winds  have  blown  his  name  through  the  forests  of  Can 
ada,  and  many  days  travel  along  the  margin  of  the  great  salt  lake. 
When  the  deer  and  the  Aberginians  hear  it,  they  fly,  though  they 
are  afar  off." 

While  uttering  these  words,  he  had  kept  his  eyes  fastened  on 
the  face  of  Waqua,  as  if  to  watch  their  effect ;  and  he  paused. 
But  the  features  of  Waqua  remained  undisturbed,  and  he  steadily 
returned  the  fiery  glances  of  the  speaker. 

"  Pieskaret  asks,"  resumed  the  Taranteen,  "  what  have  the 
Aberginians  to  do  with  our  treaties  ?  Who  invited  one  of  them, 
or  did  he  slink  without  being  whistled  for  between  the  legs  of 
men  into  our  midst  ?" 

Again  the  speaker  paused,  but  yet  the  calm  Waqua  moved  not 
from  his  place,  nor  did  he  betray  emotion. 

"  The  Aberginians,"  begun  the  Taranteen  again,  with  a  ges 
ture  of  contempt,  "are  cowards  and  dumb  dogs:  if  spoken  to, 
they  dare  not  reply,  even  with  a  whine :  the  Taranteens  have 
put  petticoats  on  them,  and  there  is  nothing  baser  than  them 
selves  except  their  allies,  the  Pequots." 

The  hitherto  undisturbed  mien  of  Waqua  changed  at  these  last 
words,  as  by  magic.  With  a  clear,  steady  voice,  while  his  sta 
ture  seemed  to  increase,  he  suddenly  cried  out : 

"  Pieskaret,  if  that  be  the  name  of  the  scolding  squaw,  is  a  liar. 
He  knows  that  when  the  Taranteens  hear  the  steps  of  a  Pequot 
they  run  like  wood-chucks  to  their  holes.  Sassacus  says  that  they 
are  old  women.' ' 

Of  course,  the  whole  of  these  speeches  was  unintelligible,  ex 
cept  to  the  interpreter,  to  whom  no  opportunity  was  given  to 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.      183 

translate  them,  and  to  the  Indians.  Great  surprise,  therefore,  was 
felt  as  the  Taranteens  all  sprung  to  their  feet  at  the  name  of  Sas- 
sacus,  and  attempted  to  push  through  the  dense  circle  that  sur 
rounded  them.  So  solid,  however,  was  the  mass,  that  this  was  a 
work  of  some  difficulty  ;  even  although  the  politeness  of  the 
angry  warriors  had  restrained  them  less  than  it  did  from  jostling 
others  out  of  the  way  ;  and,  by  the  time  when  the  foremost  In 
dian  had  reached  the  spot  where  Waqua  or  Sassacus  had  stood, 
the  Pequot  had  vanished.  They  returned,  disappointed,  to  their 
places,  snorting  the  name  of  the  redoubtable  warrior  who  had 
ventured  from  his  distant  river  to  intrude  upon  a  council  of  his 
enemies,  and  shaking  their  heads  with  resentment.  When  Mr. 
Eliot  had  explained  to  the  Governor  and  Assistants  the  cause  of 
the  excitement,  Winthrop  endeavored  to  appease  their  indigna 
tion  by  expressions  of  regret,  and  protestations  that  he  was  ig 
norant  that  the  famous  head-sachem  of  the  Pequots  was  among 
them  ;  but  his  words  were  not  attended  with  much  effect,  and  it 
seemed  that  the  council  was  about  to  be  broken  up,  when  Sir 
Christopher  asked  permission  to  speak  to  the  Indians.  It  was 
granted ;  and  to  the  surprise  of  all  the  Knight  began,  with  great 
fluency,  to  address  them  in  their  own  language.  The  tones  of 
his  voice  were  as  sweet  as  those  of  a  bubbling  spring,  and  they 
seemed  to  fall  with  a  soothing  effect  upon  the  irritated  spirits  of 
the  sons  of  the  forest.  What  he  said  Eliot  himself  could  not 
understand,  for  the  Knight  spoke  in  the  peculiar  dialect  of  the 
Taranteens,  which  varies  considerably  from  the  Algonquin  tongue 
before  used.  For,  besides  the  general  language  which  received 
from  the  French  the  name  of  Algonquin,  and  was  nearly  univer 
sally  spoken  all  along  the  border  of  the  Atlantic  and  far  into 
the  interior,  the  various  tribes  had  dialects  of  their  own,  intelli 
gible  indeed  to  a  native  familiar  with  the  parent  speech,  but 
strange  to  one  who,  like  Eliot,  had  only  an  imperfect  knowledge 
of  it.  As  the  Knight  proceeded,  those  whom  he  addressed  became 


184     THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

more  and  more  quiet ;  and  when  he  ended,  they  signified  their 
satisfaction  at  what  he  had  said  by  the  usual,  and  now  unmis 
takable  "ugh." 

By  this  time,  the  last  red  rays  of  the  setting  sun  were  lighting 
up  the  calm,  green  surface  of  Boston  harbor,  and  the  council 
shortly  broke  up,  to  resume  its  sitting  on  the  morrow.  The  pro 
cession  was  formed  again,  and  in  the  order  in  which  they  came, 
Winthrop,  attended  by  the  Taranteens,was  escorted  to  his  house. 
As  Arundel  was  departing,  he  felt  his  arm  grasped  by  some  one, 
and  turning  round,  he  beheld  the  Knight. 

"Where  is  Waqua?"  he  inquired,  in  a  low  tone.  "  He  was 
•tanding  near  thee  when  he  spoke." 

"  I  know  no  better  than  thyself,"  answered  the  young  man, 
"  and  would  gladly  be  informed.  He  vanished  suddenly,  and 
without  warning." 

"  I  know  thee  to  be  his  friend,  and  how  thou  becamest  so. 
Thou  hast  now  an  opportunity  to  requite  him  in  kind." 

"  Show  me  the  way." 

"  Hie  thee,  then,  to  his  wigwam,  for  there  likeliest  mayest  thou 
find  him,  and  warn  him  against  peril  from  these  Taranteens,  and, 
it  may  be,  from  the  Governor  himself." 

"  Be  pleased  to  explain  more  clearly,  Sir  Christopher." 

"  Waqua  is  Sassacus,  the  great  head-sachem  of  the  Pequots, 
between  whom  and  the  Eastern  Indians  is  perpetual  hostility.  He 
has  given  them  deadly  cause  of  offence,  and  I  fear  that  they  mean 
to  revenge  themselves,  or  that  he  may  commit  another  imprudent 
act.  It  were  better  that  Sassacus  should  remove  himself  away 
for  the  present.  But  I  may  not  stay  longer  talking  with  thee. 
Adieu." 

Arundel,  satisfied  of  the  friendship  of  the  Knight  to  the  Indian, 

determined  at  once  to  follow  his  counsel.    As,  however,  Sassacus 

had  undoubtedly  sought  the  forest,  he  considered  it  most  prudent 

o  retrace  his  steps  to  his  lodging,  to  procure  his  gun  before  ven- 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.      185 

turing  into  its  recesses,  where,  the  prospect  was,  that  he  would 
have  to  pass  the  night.  This  occasioned  some  delay,  and  it 
was  not  until  the  twilight  of  the  summer  evening  had  faded, 
and  stars  were  beginning  to  twinkle  in  the  sky,  that  he  found 
himself  on  the  verge  of  the  woods. 

8* 


CHAPTER    XIII. 


For  thou  wert  monarch  born.    Tradition's  pagea 

Tell  not  the  planting  of  thy  parent  tree, 

But  that  the  forest  tribes  have  bent  for  ages 

To  thee  and  to  thy  sires  the  subject  knee. 

HALLECK. 


THE  young  man  knew  not  whither  to  turn  his  steps,  except  to 
the  hut  of  Sassacus,  which,  however,  he  felt  doubtful  of  his  ability 
to  find  at  night.  No  better  plan  occurred  to  him  than  to  make 
the  attempt ;  he,  therefore,  pressed  forward,  guiding  himself  as 
well  as  he  could  by  the  stars,  glimpses  of  which  he  caught  from 
time  to  time  through  the  branches.  He  had,  however,  proceeded 
but  a  short  distance,  when,  without  a  warning  sound,  silent  as  a 
shadow,  the  Indian  stood  at  his  side. 

"I  sought  the  great  chief,"  said  Arundel,  contemplating  the 
renowned  warrior,  whose  name  was  a  synonym  with  whatever 
was  generous  and  daring,  with  more  curiosity  than  he  had  re 
garded  the  obscure  Waqua — "  to  warn  him  of  danger." 

"  Sassacus  fears  no  danger,"  replied  the  Indian  ;  "  it  is  for  the 
Taranteens  to  tremble  when  they  are  in  his  neighborhood." 

"  What  will  the  chief  do  T ' 

"  He  will  return  to  his  wigwam,  but  his  brother  must  not  go 
with  him ;  for  the  Taranteens  desire  to  carry  back  with  them 
to-night  the  scalp  of  Sassacus." 

"  Nay,  I  will  go  with  thee  to  partake  the  danger,  if  there  be 


188      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

any,  but  I  see  no  probability  thereof.  The  Taranteens  will  not 
seek  the  scalp  of  Sassacus,  if  he  hunts  not  for  theirs." 

"  My  brother  knows  not  that  they  are  owls  who  fly  in  the  night. 
The  eyes  of  Sassacus  can  pierce  the  skin  on  the  bosoms  of  his  en 
emies,  and  he  saw  in  them  men  wandering  in  the  dark,  and  look 
ing  for  the  chief  of  the  Pequots." 

"  But  how  are  these  strangers  to  find  the  way  ?" 

"  When  did  Sassacus  ever  make  a  secret  of  his  lodge  ?  He  is 
not  a  beaver,  or  a  wretched  wood- chuck,  to  burrow  in  the  ground, 
but  an  eagle  who  makes  his  nest^on  the  highest  trees." 

From  this  reply  Arundel  could  only  understand,  that  the  place 
where  the  hut  stood  was  too  well  known  to  make  it  difficult  for 
the  Indians  to  discover  it.  There  was  no  knowing  what  their 
audacity,  thirst  for  revenge  for  the  insult,  and  the  opportunity  to 
capture  or  destroy  so  famous  an  enemy,  might  tempt  them  to  un 
dertake  ;  but  he  trusted  that  the  want  of  a  medium  of  communi 
cation  (for  only  the  Knight  and  Eliot,  among  the  whites,  as  he 
supposed,  could  make  themselves  intelligible  ;  and  the  Aberginians 
were  not  likely  to  approach  the  Taranteens)  would  be  an  insup 
erable  obstacle  in  the  way  of  their  purpose,  should  they  enter 
tain  any  such  as  that  intimated  by  his  companion.  It  was  evi 
dent,  however,  that  Sassacus  expected  an  attack  during  the  night, 
and  that  so  far  from  shunning  the  danger,  he  rather  courted  it ; 
for  it  was  easily  to  be  avoided,  by  leaving  the  wigwam  to  its  fate. 
There  would  not  be  much  loss  in  that,  the  cabin  being  rudely 
built  of  bark ;  and  the  few  articles  of  value  which  it  contained 
might,  in  a  short  time,  be  removed  to  a  place  of  safety.  Arundel 
could  scarcely  be  expected  to  participate  in  the  feelings  of  the  wild 
warrior  in  the  contemplation  of  a  fight  with  savages  in  the  dark. 
Besides,  he  knew  not  by  how  many  they  might  be  attacked  ;  and 
the  prospect  of  a  contest  betwixt  himself  and  Sassacus,  on  the 
one  side,  and  half-a-dozen  or  more  Taranteens,  on  the  other, 
may  well  be  conceived  to  have  had  in  it  nothing  alluring.  He 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.      189 

would  not,  however,  desert  his  friend ;  and,  despairing  of  changing 
the  chiefs  resolution,  he  walked  in  silence  after  him,  turning  over 
in  his  mind  the  possibilities  of  a  night  skirmish.  Sassacus  had, 
probably,  an  idea  of  his  thoughts,  for  presently  he  resumed  his 
attempt  to  dissuade  Arundel  from  accompanying  him. 

"My  brother,"  he  said,  "  has  no  quarrel  with  the  Taranteens. 
They  have  come  to  smoke  the  calumet  with  his  people,  and  not  to 
plunder  his  villages  and  burn  his  corn  fields.  Why  should  my 
brother  expose  his  life  ?" 

It  was  partly  to  try  the  courage  of  the  young  man,  perhaps, 
and  partly  to  ascertain  how  far  he  might  be  depended  on,  if  there 
should  be  a  fight,  that  the  Indian  asked  the  question.  At  any 
rate,  a  suspicion  of  the  kind  passed  through  Arundel's  mind,  and 
he  answered  : 

"My  life  belongs  to  Sassacus.     It  is  no  longer  mine." 

"  Sassacus  gives  his  brother  back  his  life.  Will  he  not  now 
return  to  his  big  lodge,  where  he  will  hear  no  war-whoop,  but 
only  the  pleasant  song  of  the  gues-ques-kes  in  the  morning?" 

"  Cease,"  said  Arundel.  "  Not  if  there  were  as  many  Taran 
teens  in  the  woods  as  there  are  leaves  on  the  trees  will  I  desert 
thee." 

"  It  is  well ;  and  my  brother  shall  see  the  difference  between 
a  Pequot  and  a  wretched  Tarante  en." 

All  this  time  they  had  been  walking  without  haste  in  a  straight 
line,  the  Indian  leading  the  way,  and  seeming  to  follow  a  particu 
lar  course  by  instinct ;  for  he  looked  not  at  the  stars  nor  at  any 
signs,  so  far  as  his  companion  could  judge,  to  direct  his  steps.  In 
this  manner,  they  continued  to  advance,  not  much  conversation 
passing  until  they  reached  the  hut  of  Sassacus.  This  they  entered : 
and,  to  the  surprise  of  Arundel,  the  Indian,  after  throwing  down 
a  few  skins  for  seats,  began  leisurely  to  prepare  a  meal.  He  lighted 
a  fire  outside  of  the  lodge,  which,  of  course,  threw  a  light  all 
around,  and  served  to  guide  the  steps  of  any  wanderers,  whether 


190      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

friends  or  prowling  enemies  ;  and  waiting  until  the  wood  was  re 
duced  to  glowing  coals,  threw  upon  them  pieces  of  meat,  whose 
pleasant  odor  soon  pervaded  the  atmosphere.  The  confident  bear 
ing  of  the  Indian  had,  by  this  time,  produced  such  an  effect  upon 
Arundel,  that  he  did  not  even  ask  him  why  he  so  unnecessarily 
exposed  the  place  of  his  retreat,  but  partook  of  the  viands  from 
the  coals,  and  of  the  parched  corn,  which  his  host  produced  from 
the  wigwam,  with  a  hearty  appetite.  His  entertainer  observed 
his  execution  upon  the  meal  with  marked  satisfaction  ;  and,  upon 
its  conclusion,  presented  him  with  a  pipe,  and,  taking  one  himself, 
was  soon  under  its  soothing  influence.  Arundel,  unaccustomed 
to  the  use  of  tobacco,  could  only  inspire  a  few  whiffs,  out  of  com 
pliment  to  the  other,  and  then  sat  watching  him.  The  fire  light 
shone  full  upon  the  face  of  the  bronze  statue — "  the  stoic  of  the 
woods,  the  man  without  a  tear" — before  him,  but  no  ferocity  was 
discoverable  in  its  lineaments.  It  seemed  impossible  to  suppose 
that  thoughts  of  bloodshed  were  passing  at  that  moment  through 
the  mind  of  the  handsome  youth,  dreamily  closing  and  opening 
his  eyes,  as  the  clouds  from  the  pipe  floated  away  over  his  head, 
apparently  unconscious  of  danger,  intending  no  ill  to  others,  and 
not  anticipating  it  for  himself. 

After  smoking  his  pipe,  the  Indian,  instead  of  extinguishing  the 
fire,  threw  additional  wood,  in  considerable  quantities,  upon  it ; 
thereby  still  further  increasing  the  wonder  of  Arundel.  He  next 
invited  the  guest  into  the  wigwam,  and  heaping  up  several  skins 
in  a  corner  for  a  couch,  said,  that  he  was  about  to  be  absent  for 
a  short  time,  but  that  his  brother  might  sleep  meanwhile  in  per 
fect  security.  With  these  words  the  Pequot  departed,  leaving 
the  young  man  reclined  upon  his  bed,  but  not  to  slumber. 

Sassacus  was  gone,  it  might  be  an  hour,  and  on  his  return  he 
threw  himself  upon  the  ground  ;  and,  in  a  short  time,  as  was  ev 
ident  from  his  breathing,  was  asleep.  Arundel  could  not  under 
stand  how  any  one,  who  was  anticipating  an  attack  from  enemies 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.      191 

from  whom  he  could  expect  no  mercy,  was  able  to  rest  so  calmly. 
Had  he  entrusted  the  keeping  of  his  life — for  in  a  struggle  he 
could  expect  no  more  quarter  for  himself  than  for  his  companion 
— to  any  other  one  than  the  bold  and  adroit  warrior  whose  fame 
for  cunning  was  as  great  as  for  bravery  ;  or  had  the  relations  be 
twixt  himself  and  the  savage  been  different,  he  would  not  have 
remained  in  the  cabin  a  moment  longer.  But  he  shrunk  from 
the  betrayal  of  a  want  of  confidence,  and  preferred  even  to  risk 
life  upon  the  judgment  of  his  wild  friend.  There  lay  the  chief, 
softly  breathing,  his  limbs  dissolved  in  sleep,  and  wearing  in  the 
subdued  light  from  the  fire  outside  a  placid  expression,  more 
like  that  of  the  timid  deer  than  of  the  cougar,  whose  nature  his 
own  resembled.  As  for  Arundel,  so  highly  were  his  nerves 
wrought  up,  that  had  he  ever  so  much  desired  it,  he  would  have 
been  unable  to  sleep.  Interminable  seemed  the  anxious  hours, 
and,  as  the  night  waned,  he  became  at  last  almost  incapable  of 
mastering  his  apprehensions.  But  as  more  than  once  he  was  on 
the  point  of  waking  the  sachem,  the  thought  arose  that  it  might 
look  like  cowardice,  and  he  forbore. 

At  last  he  heard  a  sound,  which  seemed  to  come  from  just  by 
the  side  of  the  wigwam,  like  the  whirring  noise  which  the  night 
hawk  makes  with  its  wings.  Instantly  Sassacus  sat  up  on  his 
couch,  and  listened.  The  sound  was  repeated,  and  he  rose.  He 
looked  toward  Arundel,  and  with  a  smile,  inquired  how  he  had 
rested.  The  young  man,  unwilling  to  confess  the  state  of  his 
mind,  answered  in  an  evasive  manner,  and  the  Pequot,  after  re 
garding  him  a  moment  with  a  pleased  expression,  stepped  to  the 
entrance  and  cast  his  eyes  up  to  the  stars.  After  considering 
them  he  returned,  and  motioning  to  Arundel  to  arise,  said,  with 
some  humor,  that  he  was  sorry  to  disturb  his  brother,  but  that 
the  skunks  he  had  spoke  about  were  coming,  and  as  he  knew 
that  his  brother  did  not  like  their  smell,  he  would  ask  his  brother 
to  go  a  little  way  off.  Arundel,  without  altogether  understand- 


192  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

ing  the  purpose  of  his  companion,  got  up,  and  after  examining  the 
priming  of  his  piece,  followed  his  steps. 

The  chief  led  him  in  a  direction  opposite  to  that  from  which 

they  came,  to  a  distance  of  near  a  hundred  rods,  when  their  course 

was  arrested  by  the  river  Charles.     Here  he  stopped,  and  said — 

"  My  white  brother  will  remain  here,  while  Sassacus  goes  back 

to  give  the  welcome  of  a  great  chief  to  the  Taranteens." 

Arundel  now  comprehended  the  design  of  the  other,  but  it  was 
far  from  being  agreeable  to  him.  The  idea  of  letting  the  Pequot 
fight  the  battle  alone  was  derogatory  to  his  honor,  and  besides,  his 
curiosity  was  stimulated  to  witness  the  conduct  of  the  savage,  and 
he  therefore  answered  with  some  asperity — 

"  For  what  does  the  chief  take  me  ?  Am  I  a  deer  to  be  fright 
ened  at  the  whizzing  of  an  arrow,  or  the  sight  of  a  tomahawk  ?" 

"  Sassacus  would  be  grieved  should  his  brother  lose  his  scalp." 

"  No  more.  Where  the  chief  is  I  will  be.  I  am  a  warrior  as 
well  as  Sassacus,"  replied  the  young  man,  beginning  to  retrace 
his  steps. 

"It  is  well,"  said  the  Indian,  following  after  him  ;  but  when 
the  Pequots  go  to  war  in  the  night  they  make  no  noise.  My 
brother  must  not  make  thunder  (and  he  touched  the  gun). 

"  As  thou  wilt.     I  have  my  dagger." 

"  It  is  enough.  Sassacus  is  a  great  chief,  and  my  brother  will 
obey  him  for  one  night." 

"  In  all  things,  save  deserting  thee." 

"  Let  my  brother  come,  then,"  said  the  chief;  "the  arrows  of 
the  Taranteens  shall  pierce  my  bosom  before  they  reach  his." 

The  two  now  returned  together,  and  upon  re-entering  the  wig 
wam,  Sassacus  again  invited  Arundel  to  repose,  but  not  before  he 
had  removed  the  skins  on  which  his  guest  had  been  lying,  into 
the  back  part  of  the  lodge,  while  he  made  his  own  couch  near 
the  entrance.  Determined  to  see  the  adventure,  if  there  was  to 
be  one,  to  its  termination,  Arundel  laid  himself  down  to  wait  for 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.      193 

what  should  happen,  while  the  chief  stretched  himself  out,  with 
his  face  to  the  opening.  Some  brands  were  smouldering  in  the 
ashes,  and  they  threw  an  obscure  light  into  the  wigwam. 

As  they  were  thus  lying,  Arundel  thought  that  he  could  hear 
once  in  a  while  a  faint  rustling,  but  whence  it  proceeded  he  was 
unable,  with  all  his  attention,  to  discover,  and  at  last  concluded 
it  was  caused  by  the  wind  among  dry  leaves. 

He  had  now  become  so  accustomed  to  this  state  of  things,  that 
the  anxieties  which  he  felt  in  the  first  part  of  the  night  were 
gone,  and  he  began  to  fancy  that  the  expectation  of  Sassacus  was 
unfounded.  The  face  of  the  chief  was  turned  away,  so  that  it 
was  impossible  to  determine  whether  he  were  sleeping  or  not ; 
from  the  manner  of  his  breathing,  however,  Arundel  judged  that 
he  was  awake.  But  suddenly  the  respirations  became  long  and 
deep,  and  he  exhibited  the  indications  of  a  profound  slumber. 
An  instant  afterwards  Arundel,  whose  eyes  were  constantly 
turned  to  the  opening,  beheld  the  face  of  an  Indian  peering  in. 
His  first  impulse  was  to  cry  out,  but  before  he  could  make  a 
sound,  he  saw  a  naked  arm  emerge  from  behind  some  skins  which 
hung  from  the  upper  part  of  the  lodge  quite  down  to  the  ground, 
and  bury  a  tomahawk  in  the  head  of  the  intruder,  who  fell  dead 
upon  the  spot.  At  the  same  instant,  the  dreadful  war-whoop 
rung  through  the  air,  and  the  chief  leaping  to  his  feet,  and  accom 
panied  by  the  warrior,  who  had  been  concealed,  the  two  sprung 
into  the  open  space  in  front.  Arundel  too,  hastened  after  them. 
In  the  star-light  no  objects  were  clearly  discernible,  but  dark 
figures  could  be  dimly  seen,  engaged  in  hand  to  hand  contests,  and 
the  cracking  of  dry  branches  under  trampling  feet  could  be  heard. 
These  sounds  were  mingled  with  thick  panting  breaths,  and  oc 
casionally  the  fall  of  a  body  on  the  ground.  They  lasted  but  a 
few  moments,  and  then  a  silence  succeeded,  as  deep  as  if  no  liv 
ing  thing  were  in  the  forest.  As  the  eyes  of  Arundel  became 
more  accustomed  to  the  darkness,  he  beheld  a  tall  form  near  by, 


194  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

which  he  recognized  for  that  of  Sassacus,  and  immediately  ap 
proached  him. 

The  chief  was  standing  near  the  body  of  a  huge  Indian,  who 
was  lying  prostrate  on  the  earth.  He  was  in  the  last  agonies  of 
death,  and  while  Arundel  was  looking  on,  the  sinewy  limbs 
quivered  into  immobility.  Nor  had  Sassacus  escaped  without  a 
wound.  The  blood  was  streaming  from  a  gash  in  his  side,  indis 
tinctly  seen  by  light  from  the  fire,  but  he  paid  no  heed  to  it,  and 
the  result  proved  it  not  to  be  dangerous. 

When  the  dusky  warrior  had  breathed  his  last,  the  chief  ut 
tered  a  peculiar  cry,  and  immediately  half  a  dozen  stalwart  men, 
several  of  whom  had  each  a  fresh  scalp  hanging  at  his  girdle,  sur 
rounded  him.  He  addressed  them  in  their  own  language,  and 
from  his  gestures,  and  the  looks  of  his  companions,  Arundel  sup 
posed  that  he  was  speaking  of  him.  He  next  pointed  to  the  dead 
body,  and  seemed  to  be  giving  orders  concerning  it.  One  of  the 
Indians  stooped  down,  and  with  his  knife  made  a  motion  as  if  to 
take  off  the  scalp,  but  being  rebuked  by  the  chief,  he  desisted,  and 
then  lent  his  assistance  to  two  others  in  bearing  away  the  corpse. 
Aruudel  had  the  curiosity  to  follow.  The  three  bore  the  body 
to  the  bank  of  the  river,  where,  binding  it  with  withes  to  several 
large  limbs  of  trees,  they  thrust  it  into  the  stream,  and  left  it  to 
find  its  way  to  the  ocean.  A  few  earnest  words,  unintelligible  to 
the  young  man,  were  on  their  return  spoken  by  Sassacus,  who 
had  meanwhile  had  a  styptic  applied  to  his  wound.  When  he 
had  finished  speaking,  the  Indians  dispersed  in  various  directions 
in  the  depths  of  the  dark  wood,  and  the  chief  beckoning  to  his 
friend,  they  entered  the  wigwam,  and  disposed  themselves  to  sleep, 
which  delayed  not  long  to  close  their  eye-lids. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

They  spake  not  a  word, 
But  like  dumb  statues,  or  breathless  stones, 
Star'd  on  each  other. 

SHAKSPEARE. 

THE  time  fixed  for  the  audience  of  the  ambassadors  on  the 
next  day,  was  in  the  afternoon  instead  of  the  morning,  that  all 
things  might  be  done  with  dignity,  and  an  opportunity  afforded 
to  show  them  the  fort  erected  near  the  water,  and  the  shipping, 
and  whatever  else  might  impress  them  with  the  power  of  the 
whites.  "With  this  view,  the  Indians  had  been  committed  to  the 
charge  of  the  deputy  Gov.  Dudley,  and  of  Sir  Christopher  Gar 
diner,  the  latter  of  whom  acted  as  interpreter.  The  two  gentle 
men  accordingly  employed  themselves  in  the  course  of  the  fore 
noon,  in  exhibiting  to  their  red  friends  whatever  might,  in  their 
judgment,  best  subserve  the  object,  and  at  the  moment  we  meet 
them,  were  standing  on  the  deck  of  the  ship  commanded  by  Capt. 
Sparhawk,  which  lay  alongside  of  the  wharf.  Of  the  dozen  In 
dians  who  had  been  at  the  audience  on  the  yesterday  only  seven 
were  present,  and  they  were  all  the  oldest.  The  whole  group 
appeared,  to  a  careless  observer,  stolid  and  unmoved  by  what 
they  saw ;  but  one  who  watched  them  might  notice  that  they  cast 
inquisitive,  though  stolen  glances,  on  every  thing  around.  More 
over,  upon  closer  examination,  he  might  fancy  an  air  of  uneasi 
ness  among  them,  as  ever  and  anon  they  turned  their  eyes  toward 
the  houses  of  the  settlement,  and  the  forest  that  lay  beyond. 


196     THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

The  jolly  Capt.  Sparhawk  was  endeavoring,  to  the  best  of  his 
abilities,  to  do  the  honors  of  his  vessel,  quite  unabashed  by  the 
presence  of  either  Dudley  or  Sir  Christopher. 

"What  will  ye  have  to  drink,  my  hearties?"  he  cried,  slap 
ping  one  of  the  biggest  Indians  on  the  shoulder,  who  merely  turned 
round  and  stared  at  the  questioner.  "  To  you,  gentlemen,"  he 
said,  addressing  Dudley  and  the  Knight,  "  I  can  offer  some  of 
Mounseer's,  or  Don  Spaniard's  wine,  though  to  my  liking,  your 
Rosa  Solis  is  the  only  drink  fit  for  a  man ;  and  I  will  wager  the 
good  ship  Rule  Britannia  against  a  cock  boat  that  these  devils 
will  say  so  too." 

"  There  is  no  need,"  said  Dudley,  roughly.  "  It  were  to  ob 
scure  the  little  intellect  these  savages  have,  with  that  which 
serves  no  purpose,  save  to  convert  them  into  brutes. 

The  Knight's  reply  was  more  courteous. 

"  At  another  time,  worthy  Captain,  it  were  a  pleasure  to  ac 
cept  thine  invitation,  but  bethink  thee  that  it  is  early  in  the  day." 

"  It  is  near  upon  twelve,"  answered  the  Captain,  looking  at 
the  sun,  "  or  I  never  squinted  through  a  quadrant ;  and  may  it 
please  ye,  Governor,  wont  ye  let  the  red  skins  speak  for  them 
selves  r 

"  Nay,"  said  Dudley,  "  so  long  as  they  are  within  my  charge, 
nothing  stronger  than  water  shall  pass  their  lips." 

"  But,"  persisted  the  Captain,  "  if  all  I  hear  on  shore  be  true, 
I  take  it  ye  are  trying  to  drive  a  bargain  with  them  imps.  Now, 
have  ye  never  noticed  that  the  best  time  to  trade  with  a  man  is 
when  half  a  dozen  glasses  have  warmed  his  heart?" 

"  Peace,"  said  Dudley,  "  no  more  of  this.  We  came  to  see 
the  ship  and  not  to  trespass  on  thy  mistaken  hospitality." 

"  The  lubberly  milksop !"  muttered  the  Captain  betwixt  his 
teeth.  "  But  what,"  he  added  aloud,  "  are  the  red  skins  looking 
at  so  sharp  out  to  sea  ?" 

While  this  conversation  had  been  going  on,  the  attention  of  the 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.  197 

savages  had  been  arrested  by  an  object  floating  on  the  water.  It 
rose  and  fell  on  the  heaving  sea,  at  one  moment  visible,  and  at 
the  next  hid  from  view.  At  first  it  had  been  impossible  to  say 
what  it  was.  It  might  be  a  spar,  or  plank,  or  any  part  of  a  ship 
wrecked  vessel.  The  tide  was  coming  in,  and  the  object  became 
more  and  more  distinct,  until  an  old  sailor,  whose  experienced 
eyes  had  also  been  attracted  sea-ward,  exclaimed, 

u  Captain,  I'm  a  green  hand,  and  never  weathered  the  Cape, 
if  there  ben't  a  man  lashed  on  yon  spar." 

"By  St.  George's  cross,  but  I  believe  thou  art  right,  Dick 
Spritsail,"  cried  the  Captain.  "  It's  some  poor  fellow,  I  warrant 
me,  whose  ship  has  gone  down,  and  who  made  a  raft  to  try  his 
luck.  Johnny  Shark,  do  ye  see,  is  no  pleasant  customer  to  be 
come  acquainted  with,  and  so  he  took  a  venture  on  the  spar  for 
a  Christian  burial,  instead  of  making  Jonah's  viage." 

"  It's  no  Christian,"  replied  Dick,  "  unless  the  waters  in  these 
latitudes  have  the  faculty  to  turn  a  man  black." 

The  sailor  had  hardly  pronounced  the  last  words,  when  one  of 
the  Indians,  divesting  himself  of  the  skin  that  covered  his  shoul 
ders,  leaped  from  the  side  of  the  ship,  and  swam  in  the  direction 
of  the  object  which  had  attracted  their  attention.  It  would  seem 
that  his  keen  eyes,  like  those  of  the  sailor,  had  detected  the 
body,  and  that,  unable  to  repress  his  curiosity,  he  had  taken  this 
method  to  satisfy  it.  Amid  the  loud  and  wondering  exclama 
tions  of  the  white  men,  and  the  subdued  gutturals  of  the  Indians, 
whose  straining  eyes  betrayed  their  interest,  the  swimmer,  with 
lusty  strokes,  breasted  the  green  billows  as  they  came  rolling  into 
the  bay.  When  he  reached  the  floating  mass  he  carefully  exam 
ined  it,  and  then  raised  a  wail  sadder  than  the  cry  of  the  loon 
over  the  dark  waves,  when  it  anticipates  the  coming  storm.  It 
was  responded  to  by  his  companions  on  board  the  ship,  in  a  yell 
of  mingled  rage  and  grief,  that  was  heard  in  all  parts  of  the  vil 
lage,  and  far  over  the  water. 


198  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE. 

"  What  possesses  the  imps  now  ?"  cried  the  Captain,  as  two 
more  Indians,  following  the  example  of  their  tribesman,  plunged 
into  the  water.  "  I  wonder  what  they  have  found1?" 

"  Send  a  boat  after  them,  Captain,  if  thou  wilt  do  me  a  plea 
sure,"  said  Dudley.  "  It  seems  to  be  something  wherein  they 
take  a  great  interest,  and  it  will  be  only  friendly  to  furnish  them 
assistance." 

"  O,  ho  !  old  bear,  canst  growl  sweetly  enough  an'  it  suits  thy 
purpose,"  said  the  Captain  to  himself.  "  But  it  shall  never  be 
said  that  Jack  Sparhawk  was  an  unmannerly  lubber.  Halloo, 
half  a  dozen  of  ye,"  he  cried  aloud,  "  run  aft  and  lower  the  boat, 
Bear  a  hand,  men  ;  move  quick,"  he  added,  as  they  came  run 
ning  from  the  bow,  where  they  had  been  standing,  toward  the 
stern.  "  Jump  in  Bill,"  he  continued,  as  the  keel  of  the  yawl 
touched  the  water,  "  take  a  couple  of  men,  pull  after  them  red 
skins,  and  bring  'em  ashore,  with  whatever  they  have  found  in. 
the  offing." 

In  a  very  short  space  of  time  the  boat  was  pulling  away  into 
the  harbor,  and  soon  reached  the  object  of  the  search.  It  turned 
out  to  be  an  Indian,  being  no  other  than  the  warrior  Pieskaret, 
whose  corpse  the  wily  Sassacus  had  committed  to  the  river 
Charles,  wearing  the  unshorn  honors  of  his  scalp,  in  order  to 
avert  suspicion  from  himself,  and  fix  it  on  the  whites.  For 
rightly  did  the  sagacious  chief  judge  that  no  Taranteen  could  be 
induced  to  believe  that  an  Indian  would  forbear  to  possess  him 
self,  if  he  were  able,  of  the  coveted  prize,  especially  that  of  so 
mighty  a  warrior  as  Pieskaret.  And  with  regard  to  the  Pequot  in 
particular,  he,  of  all,  after  the  provocation  of  yesterday,  would  be 
the  last,  if  he  had  slain  Pieskaret,  to  be  supposed  capable  of  an  act 
of  so  great  self-denial. 

The  sailors  found  the  Taranteens  around  the  raft,  and  push 
ing  it  ashore.  In  spite  of  the  remonstrances  of  the  savages, 
which  the  white  men  did  not  half  understand,  they  unlashed  the 


THE   KNIGHT  OF   THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  199 

body  from  the  boughs,  and  taking  it  into  the  boat,  pulled  for  the 
land,  closely  followed  by  the  swimmers.  As  they  approached 
the  vessel,  they  were  ordered  by  Dudley  to  take  it  to  the  wharf, 
and  he  and  the  Knight,  followed  by  the  natives,  descended  the 
side,  and  advanced  to  the  spot  where  the  boat  was  to  land.  Here, 
when  they  arrived,  a  considerable  group  of  persons  had  collected, 
and  were  examining  the  corpse. 

So  short  a  time  had  passed  since  the  breath  left  the  body,  that 
it  still  looked  fresh  and  life-like.  There,  extended  on  the  sand, 
lay  the  strong,  bold  man,  who  but  a  day  before  had  boasted  of 
his  prowess,  and  of  the  terror  of  his  name  ;  now  a  dog  might  in 
sult  him  with  impunity.  A  deep  wound  gaped  upon  his  breast, 
and  the  water  had  not  washed  all  the  clotted  blood  from  his 
head.  His  countenance  wore  a  look  of  deadly  ferocity,  and  it 
was  evident  that  he  had  died  as  a  brave  man  should,  with  his 
face  to  the  foe. 

The  Taranteens,  after  the  first  burst  of  feeling,  looked  on  in 
gloomy  silence,  and  began  to  cast  glances  of  distrust  and  appre 
hension  around.  The  scalp-lock  of  Pieskaret  was  untouched.  He 
had  fallen  then  in  no  conflict  with  Indians.  His  companions 
had  escaped  with  the  body,  and  launched  it  on  the  water,  in  order 
to  apprise  them  of  what  had  happened,  and  of  their  own  danger. 
In  low  tones  they  addressed  each  other,  and  drew  aside  for  con 
sultation. 

Meanwhile  a  thousand  comments  were  made  by  the  bystand 
ers.  A  cloud  rested  on  the  weather-beaten  face  of  Dudley,  and 
over  the  whole  group,  except  the  Knight,  whose  equanimity  no 
circumstance  seemed  able  to  disturb. 

"  I  suspected  mischief,"  said  Dudley  to  the  Knight,  when  this 
morning,  only  half  the  number  of  the  savages  presented  them 
selves  ;  and  no\v  doth  it  pass  my  understanding  how  this  misera 
ble  wretch  lost  his  life." 

"  It  is  seldom  that  a  brawl  disturbs  our  peaceful  settlement," 


200      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

said  Sir  Christopher,  "  and  I  have  heard  of  none  during  the  night. 
Has  your  worship  obtained  knowledge  of  any  such  1" 

"  Of  none.  And  now  will  great  scandal,  and  even  infamy  rest 
on  us,  by  reason  of  this  most  untoward  event.  I  fear  me  that 
our  position  with  reference  to  these  Taran teens  will  be  worse  than 
it  was  before,  and  that  now  they  will  be  converted  from  indif 
ferent  neighbors  into  relentless  enemies,  unless  we  discover  and 
deliver  up  to  them  the  murderer,  and  even  that  will  hardly  re 
store  confidence." 

"  Nor  can  we  say  that  the  man  was  murdered.  It  is  hard  to 
set  a  limit  to  the  unbridled  passions  of  savages  ;  and  it  may  be 
that  it  was  in  self-defence,  or  in  the  endeavor  to  prevent  some 
other  grievous  wrong,  that  whosoever  killed  him  took  his  life." 

"  A  mystery  doth  enshroud  the  affair.  Where  lost  the  man  his 
life,  and  by  whose  hand,  and  for  what  cause  ?  It  could  not  be 
where  they  camped  in  the  night.  We  heard  no  disturbance,  no 
signs  of  violence  are  to  be  seen,  and  the  other  Indians  would 
have  known.  If  Indians  killed  him,  why  took  they  not  his  scalp, 
and  why  set  they  him  floating  on  the  water  ?  Herein  it  looks 
like  the  foolish  prank  of  drunken  sailors.  But  then  what  cause 
of  such  enmity  could  there  be  ?  for  all  was  done  very  quietly. 
And  what  has  become  of  the  missing  Taranteens?  Are  they 
too  killed,  or  in  the  forest  on  their  way  home  ?  Has  Sassacus 
any  hand  in  this  matter  ?  Be  it  as  it  may,  the  bold  partizan  of 
the  Pequots  must  be  looked  after." 

"  It  is  as  thou  sayest,  hard  to  determine,"  answered  the  Knight ; 
"  but  if  Indians  were  concerned  in  this  most  lamentable  deed, 
strange  has  been  their  conduct.  Such  truly  is  not  the  custom 
ary  manner  of  the  natives  to  dispose  of  their  enemies.  Wonder 
ful  forbearance  indeed,  and  disregard  of  the  traditions  and  super 
stitions  of  the  tribes  must  it  require,  to  allow  an  enemy,  when  it 
can  be  prevented,  to  step  upon  the  happy  hunting  grounds,  bear 
ing  the  un violated  honors  of  his  head." 


THE   KNIG-HT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  201 

"  It  may  be,"  replied  Dudley,  "  that  his  foes  were  unable  to 
tear  away  the  bloody  trophy ;  that  before  they  could  do  so  his 
body  was  rescued  by  his  companions." 

"  But  how  account  for  his  being  launched  upon  the  deep  ?  Is 
this  an  Indian  mode  of  disposing  of  friends  ?" 

"  My  mind  is  as  perplexed  as  thine.  I  will  consider  the  thing 
more  maturely  hereafter.  Thou  knowest  their  heathen  tongue. 
Step  forward,  may  it  please  thee,  and  try  to  calm  their  irritated 
spirits,  assuring  them  of  our  friendship  and  grief  at  what  we  can 
not  explain." 

Thus  requested,  the  Knight  advanced,  and  commenced  a  speech 
to  the  savages,  to  which  they  listened  in  moody  silence.  What 
he  said  was  of  course  unintelligible  to  all  except  the  Indians,  but 
it  appeared  not  to  produce  a  favorable  impression.  No  sound, 
whether  of  approval  or  the  contrary,  escaped  their  lips,  as,  sur 
rounding  the  corpse  of  their  companion,  they  regarded  it  with 
ominous  brows,  until  the  Knight  concluded,  when  an  Indian  ad 
dressed  him  in  reply. 

"  How  hast  thou  prevailed?"  inquired  Dudley,  when  the  Tar- 
anteen  stopped. 

"Alas!"  replied  Sir  Christopher,  "no  representations  which  I 
can  make  are  sufficient  to  soothe  their  exasperation  or  allay  their 
suspicions." 

"Ask  them,"  said  Dudley,  "after  their  other  companions." 

A  howl  of  rage,  and  a  few  rapid  words,  were  the  return  to  the 
inquiry. 

"  What  means  that  f  said  the  Deputy  Governor. 

"  They  say  that  they  suppose  they  are  following  the  footsteps 
ofPieskaret." 

"  If  such  be  their  belief,  then  farewell  to  any  treaty  or  relations 
of  amity  with  them.  They  will  soon  turn  their  backs  upon  both 
our  hospitality  and  friendship." 

The  words  of  the  Deputy  Governor  were  indeed  prophetic,  for 

9 


202  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE. 

the  Taranteens,  now  stooping  down,  raised  their  friends'  corpse 
from  the  ground,  and  bearing  it  in  their  arms,  proceeded  to  their 
canoes,  which  were  lying  at  a  little  distance  on  the  beach.  In 
one  of  them  (not  without  efforts  on  the  part  of  the  whites  to  in 
duce  them  to  change  their  determination)  they  deposited  the  body, 
and  covering  it  with  skins,  took  their  paddles  into  their  hands 
and  pushed  from  the  shore. 

"  They  are  gone,"  said  Dudley,  as  they  receded  from  view  ; 
"  and  many  a  weeping  wife  and  mother  may  rue  this  miserable 
day.  Better  that  the  tawny  heathen  had  remained  in  their  track 
less  forests,  listening  to  the  deluding  lies  of  the  French  emissaries, 
than  come  hither  as  spies  upon  our  condition,  and  to  take  advan 
tage  of  our  supposed  weakness." 

"Is  it  possible,"  inquired  the  Knight,  "  that  thou  believest  not 
in  the  sincerity  of  the  professions  of  peace  made  by  these  poor 
savages  ?" 

"  I  trust  them  not,"  answered  the  suspicious  Dudley.  They  are 
of  the  seed  of  the  serpent ;  and  as  well  might  one  expect  light 
from  the  caverns  of  the  earth,  as  fidelity  and  truth  from  Indians." 

"I  pray  thee,  be  not  so  harsh  of  judgment,"  said  Sir  Christo 
pher.  "I  have  some  knowledge  of  the  tribes,  and  have  observed 
that  they  are  ever  mindful  of  favor,  however  studious  of  revenge  ; 
nor  is  it  their  wont,  without  provocation,  to  break  their  word. 
Canst  thou  say  that  the  Taranteens  have  departed  without  seem 
ing  justification'?" 

"  I  suspect  that  these  savages  know  more  of  the  fate  of  their 
companions,  and  of  the  cause  of  the  death  of  this  Pieskaret  than 
they  choose  to  disclose.  The  longer  my  mind  broods  over  the 
subject,  the  more  am  I  convinced  that,  without  fault  on  their  part, 
they  would  not  have  drawn  upon  themselves  destruction." 

But  this  was  a  view  of  the  case  which  seemed  to  find  no  favor 
with  Sir  Christopher.  With  a  courtly  grace  and  insinuating  ad 
dress,  without  contradicting  the  other,  but  rather  by  the  recital 


THE   KNIGHT   OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  203 

of  acts  of  generosity  and  evidences  of  nobleness  of  spirit  which 
had  fallen  under  his  own  observation  among  the  Indians,  he  en 
deavored  to  dispose  the  Deputy  Governor  to  a  milder  judgment. 
But  the  prejudices  of  Dudley  were  too  deeply  rooted  to  be 
removed  by  persuasive  manners,  or  tales  however  skilfully 
framed. 

The  unfortunate  result  of  the  embassy  was  deeply  regretted  by 
the  colonists.  They  .had  looted  forward  to  it  as  a  means  of  in 
creasing  their  security,  and  establishing  a  trade  from  which  they 
hoped  to  derive  large  profits.  They  must  now  renounce  both 
expectations.  Henceforth  their  cabins  were  to  be  guarded  with 
greater  vigilance  than  ever,  and  the  courted  trade  was  to  remain 
monopolized  by  the  French.  Moreover,  the  evil  would  probably 
not  end  there,  but  distrust  and  apprehension  spread  among  the 
tribes ;  and  if  such  a  feeling  were  to  become  universal,  and  a 
general  union  be  the  consequence,  the  condition  of  the  colony 
might  become  one  of  extreme  danger.  The  character  which  the 
whites  would  then  sustain  would  be  that  of  men  disregardful 
of  the  most  sacred  obligations ;  of  wretches  who,  after  offering 
the  rights  of  hospitality,  had  taken  advantage  of  the  unsuspecting 
confidence  of  their  guests  to  murder  them.  It  was  true,  that 
the  whole  twelve  ambassadors  might  have  been  destroyed,  and 
a  part  were  suffered  to  leave ;  but  it  was  feared  that  the  undis- 
criminating  minds  of  the  savages  might  not  give  proper  weight 
to  the  consideration,  or  might  ascribe  it  to  some  policy  which 
was  the  more  dreadful  because  so  mysterious.  It  was  seen  now 
how  great  had  been  the  mistake  in  permitting  Sassacus,  the  ter 
rible  chief  of  the  Pequots,  the  most  dreaded  and  implacable  foe 
of  the  Taranteens,  to  be  present  at  the  council.  Him  the  Tar- 
anteeris  had  seen  in  apparent  good  understanding  with  the  Eng 
lish,  and  been  made  the  subject  of  his  taunts  in  their  presence. 
Might  they  not  justly  consider  this  a  strange  way  of  courting  an 
alliance  ?  True,  the  English  knew  not  that  Waqua  was  Sassacus, 


204  THE   KNIGHT   OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

but  would  the  Indians  believe  it  ?  Nor  had  they  known,  until 
the  interpreter  explained,  and  until  it  was  too  late  to  seize  the  of 
fender,  what  he  had  uttered ;  but  would  the  Taranteens,  amid 
the  excitement  of  feeling  mourning  over  the  loss  of  friends,  much 
regard  that  ? 


CHAPTER  XV. 

There  is  a  pleasure  in  the  pathless  woods. 


CHIZDE  HAROLD. 


WHEN  Arundel  awoke  after  that  fierce  night,  Sassacus  had  al 
ready  left  his  couch  and  was  preparing  their  breakfast.  The 
young  man  stepped  to  the  door-way  of  the  lodge,  and  looked 
out  upon  the  sylvan  scene. 

Nothing  to  remind  of  what  had  occurred  was  visible.  A 
shower  had  fallen  at  daylight,  and  obliterated  all  traces  of  vio 
lence.  The  rays  of  the  early  sun  were  shining  in  the  rain  drops 
glistening  on  the  leaves  or  falling  in  showers  to  the  ground,  as 
the  branches  were  agitated  by  the  breeze,  or  shaken  by  a  bird  fly 
ing  from  one  perch  to  another.  No  sounds  other  than  those 
made  by  the  feathered  musicians,  or  the  rattling  drops,  disturbed 
the  tranquillity  of  the  forest.  After  gazing  round  a  few  moments, 
while  the  contrast  betwixt  the  serenity  of  Nature  and  the  pas 
sions  of  man  forced  itself  on  his  mind,  he  threw  himself  down  by 
his  red  friend,  and  together  they  shared  the  morning  repast.  The 
curiosity  of  Arundel  induced  him  to  inquire,  what  had  become 
of  the  Indians,  who  had  rendered  so  timely  a  service  the  night 
before. 

"  The  breath  of  Sassacus,"  replied  the  chief,  "  called  them  out 
of  the  ground,  and  his  breath  bade  them  depart.  My  brother 


206     THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

will  forget  what  he  saw  in  the  dark.  It  will  be  to  him  like  a 
dream." 

Arundel  understood  by  this,  that  he  was  desired  to  be  silent 
respecting  what  had  happened,  and  indeed  no  caution  was  neces 
sary.  He,  therefore,  said,  in  answer  : 

"  None  shall  know  the  exploits  of  Sassacus  till  he  tells  them 
himself." 

"  If  Soog-u-gest  asks,  my  brother  may  tell.  He  and  Sassacus 
lie  under  one  skin." 

Thus  betrayed  itself  the  simple  vanity  of  the  savage,  who, with 
all  his  caution,  was  unwilling  that  his  prowess  should  remain 
concealed ;  yet  preferred  its  announcement  from  some  tongue 
other  than  his  own.  It  was  the  iirst  intimation  to  Arundel  that 
the  Knight  and  chief  were  acquainted,  though  Sassacus  had  once 
before  spoken  of  Sir  Christopher.  But  the  words  of  the  Fequot 
implied  more,  viz  :  that  an  intimacy  existed  between  them,  and 
this  stimulated  his  curiosity.  The  anxiety  of  Sir  Christopher 
that  the  Indian  should  be  warned  of  the  danger  which  threatened 
him,  was  now  explained.  They  were  friends,  but  why  should  the 
Knight  conceal  the  fact? 

"  Has  my  brother  been  long  acquainted  with  Soog-u-gest," 
inquired  Arundel. 

"Ne-ka-tunch  nee-zusts,"  (six  moons),  replied  the  Indian, 
holding  up  six  lingers. 

"  Will  the  chief  tell  me  what  he  pleases  about  him  ?"  said  the 
young  man,  whose  ingenuous  nature  revolted  at  any  attempt  by 
insidious  questions  to  extract  from  the  savage  a  knowledge  which 
he  desired  to  conceal.  It  appeared  unworthy  of  himself,  and  a 
wrong  to  both  his  friends.  "  I  know  little  of  Soog-u-gest,  and 
would  like  to  learn  more." 

The  fine,  bold  face  of  the  Indian  looked  pleased  at  the  frankness 
of  Arundel,  and,  it  is  probable,  that  he  was  more  communicative 
than  if  he  had  been  adroitly  questioned.  Plis  native  subtlety 


THE  KNIGHT   OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.  207 

might  then  have  taken  alarm,  and  cunning  been  met  by  cunning- 
But  Sassacus  felt  no  desire,  on  his  own  account,  for  concealment. 
The  two  young  men  had  been  strongly  attached  to  each  other 
from  the  first,  and  on  the  side  of  the  Indian,  at  least,  was  spring 
ing  up  a  friendship  for  the  other,  more  like  that  which  Plato 
celebrates  among  the  Greeks,  or  Cicero  dilates  upon,  than  the 
feeling  of  modern  times. 

"  Listen,  my  brother,"  said  the  chief.  "  It  is  more  than  six 
moons  since  Soog-u-gest  came  into  the  woods.  Sassacus  was 
laughing  when  he  said  that  six  moons  only  had  lighted  the  path 
betwixt  him  and  Soog-u-gest,  but  he  is  not  laughing  now.  The 
white  chief  built  his  wigwam  in  the  woods  because  he  loves  the 
Indians  and  the  sound  of  their  language,  and  Sassacus  loves  him 
for  that  reason,  and  because  he  has  sat  in  the  lodge  on  the  pleasant 
bank  of  the  Pequot  river,  and  ate  venison  with  Sassacus  from  the 
same  fire.  All  Indians  love  to  hear  him  tell  how  great  and  happy 
they  might  be.  He  knows  more  of  the  tribes  than  any  other 
white  man,  and  has  been  far  toward  the  setting  sun,  even  beyond 
the  country  of  the  Maquas.  Soog-u-gest  is  very  wise,  and  his 
eyes  pierce  far  into  the  darkness.  And  now  let  my  brother  bend 
down  his  head,  so  that  not  one  of  my  words  may  be  lost.  Soog- 
u-gest  has  promised  to  teach  the  Indians  to  become  wise  and 
powerful  like  the  white  men.  Perhaps  now  that  my  brother 
knows  that,  he  will  help." 

"  But  Governor  Winthrop  and  the  ministers  will  teach  all  that 
can  be  taught  you,  and  so  will  all  the  English." 

"  My  brother  is  mistaken,"  said  Sassacus,  earnestly.  "  Sachem 
Winthrop's  men  are  jealous  of  their  great  Manito,  and  do  not 
wish  to  teach  the  Indians  how  to  talk  with  him,  lest  he  should 
like  us  better  than  themselves.  Now,  we  want  to  know  how  to 
talk  with  the  Manito  who  instructed  them  in  so  many  things. 
If  they  are  good  for  Owanux,  they  may  be  good  for  us  too." 

"  Certain  am  I,  Sassacus,1'  said  Arundel,  "  nothing  would  de- 


208      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

light  the  noble  heart  of  the  Governor  more  than  to  have  you 
Christians." 

"  Sassacus  wishes  not  to  be  a  Christian.  He  was  born  an  In 
dian,  and  will  live  and  die  true  to  the  traditions  of  his  race. 
Christian  is  good  for  Owanux,  but  is  very  bad  for  the  red  men. 
The  beavers  build  dams  in  the  streams,  while  the  eagle  flies 
among  the  clouds.  The  English  are  beavers,  but  Sassacus  is  an 
eagle." 

"  But  how  can  you  attain  to  the  knowledge  of  the  white  men, 
without  becoming  like  them  f  • 

"  My  brother  must  not  be  angry  when  Sassacus  says,  that  is  a 
pappoose  question.  See  !  I  can  teach  my  brother  to  make  bows 
and  shoot  arrows.  Can  he  not  instruct  Sassacus  how  to  make 
guns,  and  the  little  black  seeds  which  cause  the  lightning  ?" 

"  That  is  not  so  easy  as  thou  thinkest.  I  know  not  myself 
how  to  make  guns,  and  the  powder  which  thou  callest  seeds." 

"  Toh  !"  replied  the  Indian,  shaking  his  head,  "  my  brother  is 
afraid  Sassacus  might  hurt  himself  with  the  lightning." 

"  Why  should  the  chief  doubt  my  word  *?  I  tell  thee  that  only 
certain  men  among  us  make  guns.  They  are  all  brought  from  a 
great  island  beyond  the  sea." 

"  The  English  are  very  cunning.  They  make  them  in  secret, 
so  that  the  Indians  may  not  learn." 

"  It  grieves  me  that  my  friend  thinks  I  speak  to  him  with  two 
tongues.  But  I  will  not  be  offended.  Are  we  not  brothers  *?" 

"  When  my  brother  loves  Sassacus  more  he  will  tell  him  all 
about  these  things,  and  they  will  then  have  one  head  and  one 
heart." 

"  They  both  belong  to  Sassacus  now.  But  what  does  he  in 
tend  to  do  ?  Will  he  return  with  me  to  Boston  ?" 

"  Let  my  brother  go  to  Shawmut,  and  if  there  is  any  danger 
he  will  let  me  know.  Sassacus  will  remain." 

"  You  judge  rightly.  There  were  peril  in  showing  thyself 
there  now.  But  how  shall  I  find  thee  again  V 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  209 

"  When  my  brother  journeys  in  the  forest,  and  would  see 
Sassacus,  let  him  make  a  noise  like  the  Gues-gues  kes-cha,  and 
Sassacus,  or  one  of  his  sanops  will  find  him."  He  whistled  the 
peculiar  note  of  the  bird,  (the  robin,)  and  smiled  at  the  awkward 
imitation  of  Arundel. 

"  Good  for  Indian.  My  sanops,  when  they  hear,  will  know 
who  is  the  Gues-ques-kes-cha." 

Thus  parted  the  two  friends.  As  Arundel  pursued  his  lonely 
way,  he  kept  running  over  in  his  mind  the  events  of  the  day  be 
fore,  and  of  the  past  night.  He  admired  the  sagacity  and  cou 
rage  of  the  Pequot  Sachem,  who,  assisted  either  by  his  own  men, 
or  friendly  Aberginians,  had  been  able  to  take  a  bloody  revenge 
for  the  attempt  on  his  life.  But  no  satisfactory  reason  occurred 
to  him  why  the  body  of  Pieskaret  should  have  been  fastened  to 
the  raft.  It  seemed  a  wanton  act  of  bravado,  which  he  could 
not  reconcile  with  the  known  qualities  of  Sassacus.  Conceal 
ment  and  not  exposure,  he  thought,  should  have  been  the  policy, 
but  on  the  contrary,  the  very  course  had  been  adopted  most  likely 
to  lead  to  discovery.  Why  again,  he  thought,  is  the  chief  of  a 
distant  tribe  lurking  in  these  woods  ?  He  surely  can  cherish  no 
evil  design  against  the  colony,  for  there  is  no  misunderstanding 
betwixt  the  English  and  the  Pequots. 

His  thoughts  then  dwelt  upon  the  Knight,  and  upon  his  con 
nection  with  the  savage.  Who  was  this  man,  who,  in  the  flower 
of  his  age,  and  with  all  the  accomplishments  of  a  gentleman, 
chose  to  retire  from  the  world,  and  with  his  sad  companion,  im 
mure  himself  in  the  woods  ?  He  was  no  sour  anchorite,  who  re 
garded  with  displeasure  the  innocent  enjoyments  of  life,  nor  did 
he  appear  to  be  an  unprincipled  adventurer,  who  had  fled  from 
restraint  in  the  old  world,  in  order  to  give  license  to  his  passions 
in  the  new.  He  was  evidently  a  man  of  consideration  in  the  co 
lony.  He  was  treated  with  attention  by  all,  courted  by  the 
whites,  and  held  in  high  estimation  by  the  Indians.  That  such 

9* 


210  THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

a  man  as  Sir  Christopher  Gardiner  should  adopt  that  wild  life  of 
seclusion,  did  not  indeed  strike  the  mind  of  Arundcl  with  the  de 
gree  of  surprise  wherewith  our  own  are  affected,  for  it  was  a  time 
of  adventure  and  romance  ;  the  poetry  of  life  was  not  bound  up 
principally  in  books,  but  was  acted  out  in  deeds  ;  and  the  occur 
rence  of  daily  wonders,  while  it  destroyed  their  singularity, 
abated  curiosity  on  their  account.  Hence  men  expressed  no  as 
tonishment  at  the  course  of  life  of  the  Knight ;  hence,  when  Arun- 
del  became  acquainted  with  him,  he  felt  none,  and  it  was  only 
upon  more  intimate  acquaintance — after  Sir  Christopher  began 
to  take  an  interest  in  him  ;  after  he  had  noted  the  influence  ex 
ercised  by  the  Knight  over  the  ambassadors ;  and  after  he  had 
discovered,  as  he  supposed,  a  community  of  aims  betwixt  the 
Knight  and  Sassacus,  that  his  curiosity  awoke.  To  judge  from 
the  communication  of  the  Indian  chief,  it  would  seem  as  if  the 
Knight  were  a  sort  of  missionary  among  the  natives,  to  teach 
them  the  arts  and  practices  of  civilized  life  ;  but  nothing  that 
Arundel  himself  had  noticed,  justified  any  such  suspicion.  All 
he  knew  of  Sir  Christopher  was,  that  he  was  passionately  fond  of 
the  chase,  which  frequently  led  him  deep  into  the  forest,  and  had 
been  known  in  some  instances  to  detain  him  several  days  away 
from  home. 

As  for  the  pale  lady  who,  always  clothed  in  black,  appeared  to 
be  devoured  by  some  secret  sorrow,  and  whom  the  Knight  called 
his  cousin,  it  did  not  seem  at  all  strange  that  she  should  love  re 
tirement,  to  indulge  the  sad  luxury  of  grief.  A  bruised  heart 
loves  darkness  and  silence. 

The  conclusion  to  which  Arundel  came  was,  that  it  was  partly 
affection  for  his  fair  cousin,  and  partly  a  love  of  adventure,  which 
had  brought  Sir  Christopher  for  a  season  to  America,  and  that 
his  kindness  to  the  Indians,  and  familiarity  with  them,  had  in 
duced  Sassacus,  and  perhaps  others,  to  indulge  hopes  as  wild  and 
improbable  of  execution,  as  their  ignorance  was  boundless.  Pur- 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELIOE.      211 

suing  these  meditations,  he  proceeded  on  to  the  settlement,  and 
arrived  at  the  wharf,  whither  he  was  attracted  by  the  little 
crowd  a  short  time  after  the  departure  of  the  Taranteens,  who 
were  still  in  sight. 

It  was  at  the  moment  when  the  Knight  was  about  to  part  from 
the  deputy  Governor,  that  the  young  man  came  up.  He  remark 
ed  the  disturbed  countenance  of  the  latter ;  but  that  of  the  former, 
whatever  he  felt,  betrayed  no  emotion. 

"  Young  sir,"  said  Dudley,  "  I  have  not  seen  thee  for  a  long 
time.  How  continues  Master  Arundel  to  like  the  new  world?" 

"  Indifferently  well,"  replied  Arundel.  "  Of  every  land,  new 
or  old,  something  favorable  may  be  said." 

"  I  observe  thou  dost  hanker  after  the  flesh  pots  of  Egypt,  and 
art  lean  in  the  midst  of  abundance.  It  is  because  thou  lackest 
those  views  of  truth,  and  that  sustaining  faith  which  can  make 
all  trials  welcome  for  their  sake." 

"  Methinks,"  said  the  Knight,  with  a  smile,  "  that  the  fair 
rosy  cheeks,  and  rounded  limbs  of  our  young  friend,  indicate  no 
want  of  the  reasonable  comforts  of  life." 

"  I  doubt  not,"  said  the  rough  Dudley,  without  heeding  the  ob 
servation,  "  that  to  them  who  come  hither  through  an  idle  curiosity, 
or  for  wanton  pastime,  or  for  purposes  still  more  unworthy,  this 
fair  land  possesses  only  temporary  attractions ;  but  for  those  who, 
with  faith  in  the  promises,  have  cast  in  their  lot  with  the  people 
of  God,  it  is  the  land  of  promise.  Here  from  altars  unpolluted 
by  the  abominations  of  Rome,  and  free  from  the  besotted  mi 
micry  of  the  Church  of  England,  so  called,  shall  ascend  hosan- 
nas  from  the  Church  and  the  armies  of  Israel.  Here,  into  the 
congregation,  shall  enter  nothing  that  telleth  a  lie,  or  causeth  to 
offend." 

He  bowed  formally,  and  involuntarily  grasping  with  his  left 
hand  the  sword  that  hung  at  his  side,  departed. 

"  Rude,  unjust,  fanatical,  I  had  almost  said  blasphemous,"  ex- 


212  THE    KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

claimed  the  Knight,  looking  after  him.  "  Ungracious  Dudley ! 
success  crown  all  thy  plans,  whereon  the  true  church  shall  indeed 
set  her  seal,  and  confounded  be  the  devices  of  her  enemies." 

"  Softly,"  with  no  heightened  color,  with  no  elevation  of  the 
voice,  with  eyes  turned  up  to  heaven  as  if  he  were  uttering  a  be 
nediction,  spoke  Sir  Christopher.  "  And  now,  Master  Arundel," 
he  inquired,  taking  the  young  man's  arm,  "  hast  found  Sassacus  ?" 
Arundel  did  not  hesitate,  after  the  permission  given  by  the  In 
dian,  which  rightly  seemed  more  like  a  request,  to  acquaint  his 
friend  with  the  adventures  of  the  night.  Sir  Christopher  listened 
attentively,  making  no  comment  till  the  narrative  was  concluded. 
He  then  said : 

"  The  mystery  of  the  morning  is  explained."  And  now,  in 
his  turn,  he  related  the  discovery  of  the  dead  body  and  the  indig 
nation  of  the  Indians,  and  pointed  to  their  canoes  fading  in  the 
distance. 

"  The  circumstances,"  he  added,  "  in  which  we  have  obtained 
knowledge  of  the  secret  locks  it  per  force  in  our  breasts ;  and, 
besides,  Sassacus  is  faultless,  having  only  protected  thy  life  and 
saved  his  own,  which  is  an  additional  reason.  But,  aside  from 
these  considerations,  I  see  not  how  the  disclosure  could  be  attended 
with  any  advantage.  The  chief  hath  not  shown  himself  hostile, 
or  done  aught  to  make  himself  amenable  to  our  jurisdiction. 
Were  the  story  to  get  wind,  it  could  only  excite  more  the  re- 
vengefuL feeling  of  the  Taranteens  and  the  ill-will  of  malignant 
spirits  among  us,  who,  through  the  Pequot,  have  been  disappointed 
in  expectations  of  trade." 

There  was  no  difference  of  opinion  between  the  two,  and  it 
was  understood  that  they  should  be  silent  on  the  subject, 

"  Master  Spikeman,"  said  the  Knight,  addressing  the  Assistant 
who  now  met  them,  "  it  is  a  pity  we  had  not  the  benefit  of  thy 
prudent  counsels  in  a  matter  that  hath  just  happened  ;  yet  do  I 
trust  that  our  conduct  will  be  approved  by  thy  better  judgment." 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.      2lS 

"  Sir  Christopher  Gardiner  stands  in  no  need  of  the  sanction 
of  my  poor  opinion  for  anything  it  may  please  him  to  do,"  an 
swered  Spikeman.  "  But  resolve  me  your  riddle." 

"Know  you  not  that  the  ambassadors  have  left  in  anger?" 

"  I  know  it,  and  the  knowledge  fills  me  with  foreboding  sor 
row." 

"  Whether  we  should  have  detained  or  allowed  them  to  depart 
in  their  present  frame  of  mind,  is  the  question  which  T  would  sub 
mit  to  thy  decision  ?" 

"  I  presume  not  to  arraign  any  conclusion,  whereunto  either 
the  worshipful  deputy  or  Sir  Christopher  Gardiner  may  arrive. 
Doubtless,  they  acted  after  grave  consideration." 

"Yet,  being  asked,  tell  me,  with  thy  usual  candor,  Master 
Spikeman,  what  you  yourself  would  have  done  in  like  circum 
stances?" 

The  Assistant  saw  the  snare,  and  determined  that  the  Knight 
should  derive  no  advantage  from  the  question.  He  perceived 
that  the  object  was  to  estop,  by  his  admissions,  any  objections  to 
the  course  pursued  in  permitting  the  Taranteens  to  leave,  which 
he  might  afterwards  be  disposed  to  make.  He,  therefore,  replied: 

"Never  be  it  said  that  I  officiously  obtruded  an  opinion  ;  but, 
Sir  Christopher,  thus  urged,  I  confess  that  it  had  better  pleased 
me  had  the  savages  been  detained.  Opportunity  might  then 
have  been  afforded  to  disabuse  their  ignorance  and  convince  them 
of  our  innocence." 

"  I  will  not  say  thou  art  in  the  wrong,  but  if  the  excellent 
Dudjey  erred,  it  is  a  strange  departure  from  his  ordinary  admi 
rable  judgment." 

"  I  pray  thee  to  understand  that  I  impugn  not  the  action  of 
the  judicious  Deputy  Governor  ;  but  wherefore  gave  you  not — 
you  who  are  so  well  acquainted  with  the  nature  of  these  heathens 
— advice  to  stop  them  for  the  present?" 

"  And  how  know  you  I  gave  it  not  ?  But  truly,  Master  Spike- 


214  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE. 

man,  I  did  not.  I  trust  I  am  not  forward  to  speak  before  princes. 
For  what  saith  Holy  Scripture  :  '  Even  a  fool,  when  he  holdeth 
his  peace,  is  counted  wise ;  and  he  that  shutteth  his  lips  is  es 
teemed  a  man  of  understanding.'  Yet  had  I  seen  any  imminent 
danger  from  allowing  the  departure  of  the  savages,  believe  me  I 
had  spoken,  even  at  the  risk  of  incurring  the  dishonor  to  see  my 
counsel  rejected." 

"  It  is  evident,  Sir  Christopher,  that  you  have  grave  doubts  on 
the  subject.  Now,  methinks,  it  had  been  well  to  remember  (casting 
aside,  as  an  inconvenient  garment,  these  scruples)  what  the  wise 
king  of  Israel  also  said,  in  another  place :  '  Where  no  counsel  is, 
the  people  fall ;  but  in  the  multitude  of  counsellors  there  is  safety.' 

"  It  pains  me,"  answered  the  Knight,  whose  courtesy  increased 
with  the  other's  coldness,  "  not  to  obtain  thine  approval.  But, 
Master  Spikeman,  now  that  we  are  alone,  (for  Arundel,  at  the 
very  beginning  of  the  conversation,  without  greeting,  or  in  any  wise 
noticing,  the  Assistant,  had  passed  on  and  was  out  of  sight),  I 
avail  myself  of  the  good  chance  to  avow  my  anxious  desire  to 
secure  thy  friendship." 

"  If  such  truly  be  the  wish  of  Sir  Christopher  Gardiner,"  re 
turned  the  Assistant,  "  it  is  a  thing  easy  to  be  compassed." 

The  countenance  of  the  Knight  lighted  up,  as  he  replied,  "  I  re 
joice  greatly  at  thy  words." 

"  But,"  continued  Spikeman,  "  I  am  a  man  of  deeds  and  not 
of  words.  I  will  be  plain  with  you,  Sir  Christopher,  and  show 
you  that  it  is  no  fault  of  mine  that  I  have  been  unable  (however 
much  desiring  it)  to  look  upon  you  as  a  well  wisher  of  mine,  but 
your  own.  Have  you  not  interfered  in  favor  of,  and  harbored, 
that  Philip  Joy,  convicted  of  contumelious  language  against  the 
magistrates  and  elders,  and  whom,  I  have  reason  to  believe,  is 
specially  evil-disposed  toward  myself;  and  are  you  not  now  in 
open  familiarity  with,  and  a  supporter  of  this  young  man,  who 
but  just  now  parted  from  you ;  who  deigned  not,  even  by  a  look, 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  215 

to  notice  me  ;  and  whose  business  here  seems  to  be  to  scatter  re 
ports  intended  to  work  detriment  to  my  character  ?  It  is  conduct 
like  this  which  hath  separated  us  one  from  the  other." 

"  Master  Spikeman,"  said  the  Knight,  deprecatingly,  "  the  re 
lation  wherein  I  stand  to  Philip  is  of  public  notoriety,  and,  there 
fore,  cannot  be  unknown  to  you ;  and,  meseems,  is  sufficient  to 
excuse  the  slight  favor  I  show  him.  Yet,  herein  will  I  approve 
myself  loyal  unto  my  regard  for  thee.  I  believe  thou  errest  in 
ascribing  an  evil  intent  on  the  part  of  Philip,  but  if  he  cherish 
any  such,  I  will  take  order  with  him,  which  shall  redound  to  thy 
satisfaction.  As  for  this  Master  Arundel,  thou  layest  more  stress 
upon  a  casual  acquaintance  with  him  than  it  deserves.  I  coun 
tenance  him  not.  I  attach  no  more  consequence  to  what  he  may 
say  than  belongs  to  the  prattle  of  a  beardless  boy.  Wouldst 
have  me  rude  to  one  who  enlivens  my  solitude,  being  fresh  with 
news  from  the  old  world,  and  who  visits  me  only  through  a  like 
love  with  myself  of  sylvan  sports'?" 

"  I  presume  not  to  dictate  to  Sir  Christopher  Gardiner,"  said 
Spikeman,  coldly,  "  who  shall  be  his  associates,  or  what  course  in 
any  respect  he  shall  pursue.  You  will  remember  that  your  ex 
culpation  (such  as  it  is)  was  volunteered  by  yourself." 

The  eyes  of  the  Knight  fell  to  the  ground  at  this  ungracious 
reply,  so  that  his  resentment,  if  he  felt  any,  was  hid  under 
their  drooping  lids.  A  faint  suffusion  passed  over  his  face,  but 
after  the  pause  of  a  moment,  he  extended  his  hand  with  a  smile, 
while  he  said : 

"  I  will  find  means  to  dissipate  this  delusive  cloud  that  inter 
poses  itself  betwixt  us.  Meanwhile,  accept  my  hand,  in  token 
that,  however  changed  thyself,  I  remain  the  same." 

It  was  impossible  to  refuse  to  take  the  hand  so  offered,  but  it 
was  with  no  cordial  grasp  the  Assistant  received  it :  and  the  two 
parted  with  feelings  of  aversion  to  one  another,  strengthened  by 
the  interview. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


And,  Douglass,  more  I  tell  thee  here, 

Even  in  thy  pitch  of  pride, — 
Here,  in  thy  hold,  thy  vassals  near, 

*  *  *  * 

I  tell  thee  thou'rt  defied. 

MAKMIOX. 


THREE  weeks  followed  after  the  events  recorded,  without  the 
occurrence  of  anything  deserving  special  mention.  The  life  of 
the  colonists  went  on  as  usual,  in  erecting  new  tenements,  in  cul 
tivating  their  farms,  and  in  such  other  occupations  as  their  situa 
tion  made  necessary.  But  little  was  seen  of  the  Knight  in  the 
settlement,  it  being  understood  that  he  was  amusing  himself  as 
usual  in  the  sports  of  the  forest.  He  did  occasionally,  however, 
make  his  appearance  in  the  village,  in  the  prosperity  of  which 
he  manifested  an  interest.  Notwithstanding  the  slighting  manner 
in  which  he  had  spoken  of  Arundel,  and  the  displeasure  of  Spike- 
man  at  the  favor  which  he  showed  the  young  man,  his  conduct 
toward  him  remained  unchanged.  As  before,  Arundel  was  fre 
quently  at  Sir  Christopher's  place,  and  often  accompanied  him 
on  short  expeditions,  though  never  on  distant  excursions,  which 
required  several  days. 

The  interest  of  the  young  man  in  the  Knight  increased  daily. 
Sir  Christopher's  manners  were  so  gracious,  his  temper  so  sweet 


218  THE   KNIGHT   OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

and  equable,  and  the  sentiments  he  expressed  so  noble,  that  it 
was  impossible  an  ingenuous  youth  should  escape  their  fascina 
tion.  Yet  did  Arundel  fancy  that  the  attachment  which  he  felt 
was  hardly  returned.  It  might  be  a  mere  fancy  springing  from 
a  jealous  sensitiveness,  which  is  disappointed  if  it  be  not  paid  in 
the  full  measure  of  its  own  coin.  Perhaps  the  inexperienced 
youth  was  unreasonable  in  expecting  from  his  senior,  schooled  to 
greater  caution  by  intercourse  with  the  world,  the  demonstrative- 
ness  which  characterized  his  own  conduct.  Be  it  as  it  may,  upon 
more  acquaintance,  the  Knight  seemed  to  his  young  friend  to  re 
semble  nothing  so  much  as  a  polished  rapier,  which,  while  it 
shines  to  the  eye,  is  cold  to  the  touch.  Of  the  pale  lady  Ger- 
aldine  he  saw  little.  He  had  noticed  accidentally  a  circumstance 
in  reference  to  her,  for  which  he  was  unable  to  account.  Having 
arrived  late  one  afternoon  at  the  residence  of  the  Knight,  he 
found,  upon  inquiring  after  him,  that  he  had  been  absent  several 
days,  and  was  not  expected  to  return  for  two  or  three  more. 
Arundel  then  asked  to  see  the  lady,  but  was  answered  that  she 
was  confined  sick  to  her  room  and  unable  to  receive  any  one. 
Late  as  it  was,  for  the  sun  was  setting,  he  was  preparing  to  re 
turn  to  the  settlement,  when  he  heard  sounding  from  the  edge  of 
the  forest  the  Knight's  hunting  horn.  He  stepped  to  the  outer 
door,  and  beheld  Sir  Christopher  advancing  with  the  lady. 

The  former  was  habited  in  his  usual  hunting  gear,  while  the 
dress  of  the  lady  G-eraldine  consisted  of  an  over-coat  of  dark 
cloth,  falling  just  below  the  knee,  fitting  tightly  about  the 
chest,  and  rising  high  into  the  neck.  On  her  feet  were  mocca 
sins,  of  the  natural  russet  shade  of  the  leather,  laced  up  the 
calf  of  the  leg,  so  that  they  nearly  reached  the  skirt,  and  on  her 
head  she  wore  a  black  leather  cap,  ornamented  with  an  ostrich's 
feather,  beneath  the  protection  of  which  her  hair  fell  down  in 
plaits  upon  her  back.  The  dress  was  a  mixture  of  the  civilized 
and  of  the  savage,  and  as  she  approached,  with  a  little  color  in 


THE    KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  219 

her  cheeks,  occasioned  by  the  exercise,  Arundel  thought  that  she 
looked  even  beautiful.  Her  manner  appeared  to  him  to  betray 
confusion,  but  there  was  no  embarrassment  on  the  part  of  the 
Knight.  He  welcomed  his  visitor  with  his  customary  politeness, 
merely  inquiring  how  long  it  was  since  he  had  arrived,  adding, 
that  his  cousin  had  been  persuaded  to  accompany  him  on  a  hunt 
ing  expedition,  for  the  sake  of  her  health,  which  would  account 
for  the  disorder  of  his  house.  The  two  were  accompanied  by 
several  natives,  among  whom  was  the  little  girl ;  but  their  hunt  it 
would  seem  had  been  unsuccessful,  for  they  had  not  much  game. 
A  falsehood  had  been  told  by  the  domestic,  evidently  to  conceal 
the  absence  of  the  lady,  which  Arundel  could  explain  only  on 
the  supposition  that  it  was  designed  to  mislead  others  and  not 
himself,  and  was  said  to  him  only  because  the  servant  was  unable 
to  discriminate. 

In  spite  of  the  vigilance  of  Spikeman,  Arundel,  aided  by  the 
cunning  of  Prudence,  and  the  connivance  of  the  Assistant's  wife, 
had  two  or  three  times  seen  Eveline;  and  the  lovers,  with  protes 
tations  of  eternal  fidelity,  encouraged  each  other  to  look  forward 
to  happier  days.  Philip  Joy  too,  though  in  disobedience  to  the 
orders  of  the  Knight,  who  had  strictly  commanded  him  not  to 
put  foot  upon  the  soil  under  the  jurisdiction  of  Winthrop,  con 
tinued  to  keep  up  a  communication  with  his  mistress.  Pretty 
Prudence,  like  a  beleagured  city  hard  bested,  kept  the  enemy 
Spikeman  at  bay  ;  nor  did  he,  with  all  his  parallels  and  cir- 
cumvallations,  make  any  progress.  Not  so,  however,  thought 
the  Assistant,  (for  what  man  cannot  the  cunning  of  a  coquette 
deceive  "?)  who  every  once  in  a  while  fancied  the  fortress  was 
about  to  capitulate.  Whenever  he  began  to  despair,  a  few  sweet 
smiles,  or  a  word  of  encouragement,  were  sufficient  to  re-kindle 
hope ;  for  though  the  girl  hated  him,  she  yet  took  a  mischievous 
pleasure  in  practising  her  caprices  on  him,  and  keeping  him  dang 
ling  at  her  aprou  strings. 


220      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

Such  was  the  state  of  things,  when  one  morning  a  canoe  was 
seen  entering  the  harbor  of  Boston,  containing  a  couple  of 
Indians.  They  paddled  directly  up  to  the  wharf,  where  several 
persons  were  standing,  looking  on,  while  others  were  engaged  in 
various  employments  connected  with  commerce,  and  sedately 
stepping  on  shore,  one  of  them  hauled  the  canoe  upon  the  beach, 
beyond  the  rising  of  the  tide.  This  being  done,  they  advanced 
in  the  direction  of  the  group  of  white  men.  The  one  who  was 
evidently  the  leader,  as  well  fvom  his  walking  first,  (the  other 
stepping  in  his  track,)  as  well  as  from  the  superior  richness  of 
his  dress,  which  was  the  skin  of  a  moose  loosely  disposed  over 
his  shoulders  as  a  robe,  and  that  of  a  deer  divested  of  its  hair, 
beautifully  tanned,  and  painted  in  bright  colors,  for  a  breech 
cloth,  with  the  feathers  of  some  bird  in  his  scalp  lock  ;  while  the 
garments  of  his  follower  were  merely  deer  skins  dressed  with  the 
hair  ;  pronounced,  as  soon  as  they  came  within  about  a  rod  of  the 
white  men,  the  single  word  "  Taranteen,"  and  then  both  stopped. 
So  similar  were  the  dress  and  general  appearance  of  the  Indian 
tribes  to  one  another,  that  the  eye  alone  would  have  been  insuf 
ficient  to  detect  a  difference ;  but  the  utterance  of  the  word  indi 
cated  at  once  to  which  one  the  new  comers  belonged,  and  their 
desire  to  have  it  immediately  understood.  Various  questions 
were  now  asked  by  the  curious,  who  thronged  around  the  sava 
ges,  but  no  answer  was  returned  save  the  word  Taranteen,  and 
some  words  that  sounded  like  an  attempt  at  French. 

The  gallant  Captain  Sparhawk,  who,  to  judge  from  the  part  he 
took  in  the  conversation,  and  the  emphasis  wherewith  he  ex 
pressed  his  opinions,  was  the  principal  personage  present,  having 
exhausted  his  stock  of  Spanish,  and  German,  and  French  phrases 
which  he  had  picked  up  in  his  trading  voyages,  as  well  as  sundry 
uncouth  sounds  it  was  his  pleasure  to  call  Indian,  in  a  vain  at 
tempt  to  make  himself  understood,  at  last  decided  that  the  only 
proper  course  was  to  take  them  before  the  Governor.  At  the 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.      221 

mention  of  Winthrop's  name,  the  Indian's  face  was  lighted  up 
with  a  look  of  intelligence,  and  he  made  a  motion  with  his  head 
as  though  he  knew  for  whom  it  was  intended. 

"  Do  ye  see  now,  my  hearties,"  cried  the  gratified  Captain, 
"  the  ignorant  beggar  understands  me  after  all.  I  mistrusted, 
from  the  beginning,  that  he  was  only  playing  'possum,  as  they  say 
down  in  Virginny.  For  look  ye,  ye  lubbers,  it  would  be  strange 
if  a  man  who  has  been  buen'  camarada  with  the  Spaniard,  and 
guter  Gesell  with  the  Dutchman,  and  parley  wood  with  Mounseer, 
and  made  the  weight  of  his  ship  in  gold  for  his  owners,  out  of 
these  here  salvages,  shouldn't  be  able  to  speak  their  gibberish. 
It's  not  so  hard  after  all,  do  ye  see,  when  one  gets  the  weather 
guage  of  it.  But  here,  some  o'  ye,  gallivant  the  red  skins  up  to 
the  Governor,  (a  good  enough  fellow  in  his  way,  I  dare  say,  if 
he  were  not  so  d d  hard  on  drinking  healths,)  with  my  com 
pliments,  with  the  compliments  of  Capt.  Sparhawk,  (do  ye  hear?) 
and  let  him  know  how  they  drifted  ashore.  And  hark  ye,  if  he 
should  be  inclined  to  a  little  agreeable  conversation  with  the 
tanned  hides,  just  let  him  send  me  an  invitation,  and  I  shall  be 
happy  to  officiate  as  interpreter.  Heave  ahead,  Bill  Pantry,  and 
take  command  of  the  squad.  You've  been  long  enough  under 
my  command  to  know  how  to  do  the  honors  in  a  gentlemanly 
way." 

Accordingly  Bill  Pantry,  in  obedience  to  the  orders  of  his 
Captain,  which  seemed  to  the  bystanders  the  most  sensible  sug 
gestion,  took  possession  of  the  Indians,  and  escorted  them  to  the 
Governor's  house. 

It  so  happened,  by  an  accident,  that  the  invaluable  services  of 
Capt.  Sparhawk,  as  a  linguist,  were  not  needed  on  the  occasion, 
for  upon  the  strangers  being  announced  by  one  of  the  soldiers  on 
guard  at  the  door,  the  Knight  of  the  Golden  Melice  was  found 
to  be  with  Winthrop. 

As  the  Indians  entered  the  room,  Winthrop  rose,  and  with 


222      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

great  urbanity,  offered  his  hand  to  him  who  appeared  to  be  the 
principal.  To  his  astonishment,  however,  the  Taranteen  extend 
ed  not  his  own. 

"  How  is  this  ?"  exclaimed  Winthrop.  "  Is  this  intentional 
discourtesy,  or  are  ye  ignorant  of  the  customs  of  the  English  ?" 

Hereupon  the  principal  Indian  uttered  a  sentence  or  two,  un 
intelligible  to  Winthrop. 

"  Thou  dost  understand  the  language  of  the  Taranteens,  Sir 
Christopher,"  he  said.  "  May  it  please  you,  who  are  so  happily 
here,  to  explain  his  meaning  ?" 

"  He  says,"  replied  the  Knight,  "  that  he  has  been  sent  as  a 
messenger  by  his  nation,  and  that  he  hopes  you  will  respect  his 
character." 

"  Surely,"  said  Winthrop.  "  How  could  he  imagine  the  con 
trary  ?  Who  can  impeach  our  faith  ?" 

"  You  forget,"  said  the  Knight,  "  what  suspicions  must  have 
been  engendered  by  the  unhappy  termination  of  the  late  em 
bassy." 

"  It  will  be  difficult  to  persuade  me,"  said  Winthrop,  "  that 
it  was  other  than  a  broil,  wherein  our  people  had  no  part.  I  can 
not  be  deceived,"  continued  he,  waving  his  hand,  observing  that 
Sir  Christopher  was  about  to  reply,  "  by  the  cunning  stratagem 
resorted  to,  for  the  purpose  of  averting  suspicion.  But  a  truce 
with  this.  Say  to  him  he  is  as  safe  as  his  child,  if  he  has  one,  in 
his  wigwam.  What  says  he  now?"  he  inquired,  after  the  Knight 
had  interpreted  his  words,  and  the  Indian  replied. 

"  Pie  asks  where  are  the  four  companions  of  Pieskaret." 

"  Tell  him  I  know  not,  but  suppose  they  have  either  returned 
to  their  homes,  or  been  destroyed  by  hostile  Indians." 

When  this  was  explained,  the  stately  savage  sadly  smiled,  and 
shook  his  head.  He  then  spoke  again. 

"  He  says,"  answered  the  Knight,  to  the  look  of  Winthrop, 
"that  it -is  not  the  custom  of  Taranteen  ambassadors  to  run 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.      223 

away,  and  that  they  know  how  to  protect  themselves  from  the 
Aberginians." 

"  I  protest,"  said  Winthrop,  "  that,  however  different  my  own 
opinion,  I  do  half  believe  that  these  blinded  savages  in  fact  im 
agine  their  tribes-men  were  murdered  by  the  whites.  To  be  de 
plored  is  it  that  such  an  opinion  should  get  footing  among  them, 
staining  as  it  doth  our  good  name  and  pregnant  with  many  pos 
sible  evils.  Assure  him,  Sir  Christopher,  of  my  grief  at  what 
has  happened  ;  of  my  sincere  desire  to  discover  how  Pieskaret 
lost  his  life  ;  of  what  has  become  of  his  missing  people  ;  and  of 
my  readiness,  if  it  can  be  shown  that  an  Englishman  has  in  any 
wise  connection  therewith,  to  render  to  the  Taranteens  perfect 
satisfaction." 

The  Indian  listened  to  all  this  with  the  deepest  attention  as  it 
was  explained  to  him,  and  then  replied : 

"Pieskaret  is  gone,  and  his  kindred  will  see  him  no  more 
The  eyes  of  his  wife  are  swollen  with  weeping,  and  his  children, 
like  little  birds  in  the  nest,  open  their  mouths  for  food  ;  but  Pies 
karet  comes  not  to  fill  them.  His  feet  were  like  those  of  a  deer, 
and  his  voice  like  the  shouting  of  the  great  salt  lake  on  the  rocks. 
"Woe  is  me,  for  I  shall  see  my  brother  no  more.  But  he  is  glad 
on  the  happy  hunting  grounds  of  brave  warriors.  It  is  well  with 
him :  we  know  where  he  is,  but  we  know  not  where  are  our 
brothers  who  were  with  Pieskaret.  We  know  that  the  English 
love  slaves,  and  we  fear  that  they  have  made  slaves  of  our  bro 
thers.  We  will  turn  away  our  eyes  from  the  widow  of  Pies 
karet  and  his  little  children,  and  will  stop  our  ears  so  that  we 
cannot  hear  their  crying,  and  forget  the  fate  of  Pieskaret,  if  the 
white  chief  will  return  our  brothers." 

"  Alas !  unhappy  that  I  am,"  said  Winthrop,  "  that  this  new 
suspicion  should  fill  the  minds  of  the  savages.  Assure  him,  upon 
my  faith  as  a  Christian — upon  my  honor  c\s  a  gentleman — make 
the  asseveration  as  solemn  as  thou  canst — that  he  suspects  us 
falsely." 


224  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE. 

But  the  grave  chief  abandoned  not  the  idea.  With  eyes 
searching  the  countenance  of  the  Governor,  he  said : 

"  The  Taranteens  will  give  many  belts  of  wampompeag  and 
will  heap  up  their  canoes  with  skins  for  Owanux,  as  a  ransom 
for  their  tribes-men." 

"  Tell  him,"  said  Winthrop,  "  that,  overlooking  the  insult  of 
doubting  my  word,  if  they  Avere  to  give  me  belts  of  wampompeag 
extending  from  here  to  the  sun,  and  skins  to  cover  the  ground 
from  Shawmut  to  his  country,  I  could  not  restore  his  tribes-men, 
for  I  know  nought  of  them." 

"  When  my  brothers  came  to  visit  the  white  chief,  they  placed 
themselves  in  his  keeping  and  feared  not  the  darkness,  for  they 
knew  that  he  was  very  powerful.  They  slept  like  a  pappoose  on 
its  mother's  bosom." 

"I  understand,"  replied  Winthrop,  "  thou  would' st  make  me 
responsible  in  particular  for  the  misfortune  of  thy  friends ;  but  my 
conscience  reproaches  me  not.  If  they  are  dead,  it  is  probably 
in  consequence  of  their  own  default ;  and,  I  repeat,  I  believe  not 
that  an  Englishman  had  a  hand  in  their  destruction." 

Here  the  Taranteen,  who  acted  as  spokesman,  turning  to  his 
companion,  uttered  a  sentence ;  whereupon  the  other,  feeling  in 
the  folds  of  his  deer  skin  robe,  produced  a  pipe,  the  bowl  of  which 
was  made  of  a  reddish  clay,  into  which  was  inserted,  for  a  stem, 
a  reed  beautifully  ornamented  with  black  and  white  shells,  and 
bright  colored  feathers  of  various  birds.  This  the  orator  received 
from  the  hands  of  his  follower,  and  again  addressed  the  Gov 
ernor  : 

"  The  Taranteens  are  a  great  nation,  and  they  love  peace.  It 
pleases  them  to  see  the  smoke  as  it  ascends  from  the  calumet.  It 
is  more  beautiful  to  their  eyes  than  the  white  summer  clouds 
which  protect  them  from  the  heat  of  the  sun.  They  would  be 
glad  to  smoke  with  Owanux,  but  they  cannot  do  it  now,  because 
should  they  attempt  it,  the  blood  of  Pieskaret  would  put  out  the 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  225 

fire  and  the  groans  of  his  four  brothers  would  agitate  us  so  that 
the  pipe  would  fall  from  our  hands.  I  want  the  white  chief 
to  strengthen  our  hands,  so  that  we  can  hold  the  calumet  firmly, 
and  perhaps  that  will  satisfy  Pieskaret  too." 

"I  understand  him,"  said  Winthrop,  after  the  Knight  had  in 
terpreted,  "  but. let  him  proceed." 

"  If  the  white  chief  will  deliver  to  us  the  murderers  of  Pies 
karet,  and  release  our  brothers  from  slavery,"  said  the  Taranteen, 
slowly  and  impressively,  "it  is  well,  and  we  will  smoke  with 
Owanux  and  forget  what  has  happened  ;  but  if  he  will  not," — 
and  here  his  voice  sounded  like  the  growl  of  a  bear,  as,  putting 
his  hand  into  his  bosom,  he  took  out  a  small  package  and  handed 
it  to  Winthrop, — "  we  speak  to  the  white  chief  thus  :" 

The  Governor  received  the  package,  and  saw  that  it  consisted 
of  a  tomahawk  in  the  centre,  around  which  were  placed  several 
small  arrows  tipped  with  a  red  dye,  and  tied  together  with  the 
stuffed  skin  of  a  rattle-snake,  the  rattles  of  which  sounded  as  he 
took  the  ominous  present  into  his  hand.  He  waited  composedly 
until  the  Knight  had  explained  the  words,  though  he  compre 
hended  at  once  the  meaning  of  the  savage,  and  then  answered  : 

"  If  the  Taranteens  are  a  great  nation,  they  are  a  nation  ot 
fools,  else  why  do  they  not  listen  to  my  words  ?  1  tell  thee  a 
white  English  chief  cannot  lie ;  the  Great  Spirit  will  not  permit 
a  Christian  chief  to  lie.  In  vain  have  I  asserted  our  innocence 
in  this  matter ;  in  vain  have  I  expressed  sorrow,  and  humiliated 
myself  to  thy  reproaches.  But  the'  English  know  how  to  treat 
those  who,  faithless  themselves,  believe  not  in  the  faith  of  others. 
Behold!"  ^,r  x 

Winthrop  drew  his  rapier,  and  cut  the  snake  skin  so  that  the 
tomahawk  and  arrows  fell  apart.  Placing  the  skin  upon  a  table, 
he  next  took  up  the  arrows,  and,  breaking  several  at  a  time,  let 
the  pieces  drop  at  his  feet.  Then  seizing  the  tomahawk,  he  dashed 
it  with  such  violence  on  the  hearth  of  the  fire-place,  that  the 

10 


226      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MKLICE. 

handle  flew  off  and  the  stone  head  was  broken.  Lastly,  taking 
down  from  a  nail  in  the  wall  whereon  they  hung,  a  powder-horn 
and  pouch  of  bullets,  he  filled  the  skin  with  powder  and  ball,  and 
held  it  out  to  the  Taranteen. 

"  Return  now  to  thy  people,"  he  said,  looking  at  the  Indian 
with  a  stern  aspect,  "  and  tell  them  what  thou  hast  seen  and 
heard.  Tell  them  that,  though  the  English  love  peace,  they  fear 
not  war.  Tell  them  that  we  have  never  wronged  the  Taranteens 
by  word  or  deed,  nor  is  it  our  intention  now  to  punish  them  for 
their  injurious  suspicions.  But  tell  them  also  that,  as  I  have 
broken  their  arrows  and  dashed  their  war-axe  in  pieces,  so  will 
I  serve  them,  if  the  north- wind  brings  to  my  ears  a  whisper  of 
evil  designs  from  them.  And  as  I  have  stuffed  the  snake  skin 
with  powder  and  ball,  so  will  I  fill  their  bodies  with  the  same. 
Return." 

As  Winthrop  uttered  these  words  with  a  firm  voice  and  im 
posing  manner — words  so  explained  by  his  actions  that  they 
needed  no  interpretation — he  was  confronted  by  the  Taranteen 
with  a  dignity  equal  to  his  own.  The  demeanor  of  the  savage 
was  as  calm  as  if  he  were  smoking  a  pipe  in  his  wigwam.  He 
quietly  followed  every  motion  with  his  eyes,  listened  with  all  at 
tention,  as  if  he  understood  what  was  said,  and,  when  Winthrop 
had  concluded,  took  the  loaded  skin  and  handed  it  to  his  fol 
lower.  The  inferior  Indian  shrunk  as  he  received  the  portentous 
powder  and  shot  in  their  strange  envelope,  but  whatever  appre 
hensions  he  felt,  he  succeeded  in  conquering  them,  taking  care 
however  to  hold  the  missive  at  a  little  distance  from  his  person. 

"  Tender  now  our  hospitality,"  said  Winthrop  to  the  Knight, 
"  so  long  as  they  remain  among  us." 

"  But  the  Taranteens  showed  no  disposition  to  accept  the  offer. 
Something  was  growled  by  the  principal  one,  which  Sir  Christo 
pher  interpreted  to  intimate  a  desire  to  Depart. 

11  Be  it  so,"  replied  Winthrop.     "  Moulton,"  he  added,  calling 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  227 

a  soldier,  "take  with  you  Gamlyn,  and  escort  these  savages  with 
all  civility  to  their  canoes.  And  should  they  desire  anything  to 
promote  the  comfort  of  their  return,  let  it  be  furnished  and 
placed  to  my  account." 

The  orders  of  the  Governor  were  explained  to  the  Indians  by 
the  Knight,  and  they  left  the  room  in  the  care  of  the  soldiers. 

"  Sir  Christopher,"  said  Winthrop,  on  their  departure,  "  this 
is  a  miserable  coil.  Now  will  these  misguided  savages,  instigated 
I  doubt  not  by  the  emissaries  of  Rome,  soon  be  yelling  upon  our 
borders,  and  seeking  to  imbrue  their  hands  in  our  blood.  Were 
we  dealing  only  with  the  natives,  there  might  be  some  hope  of 
soothing  their  ferocity  and  averting  an  outbreak  of  their  insane 
rage  ;  but  nothing  can  be  done  with  the  Jesuit — more  subtle  than 
the  serpent,  more  fell  than  the  Hyrcanian  tiger." 

"  Have  the  disciples  of  Loyola  penetrated  to  this  fierce  tribe  ?" 
inquired  Sir  Christopher. 

"  Art  thou  ignorant  that  the  cunning  father  Le  Jeune,  the 
daring  Brebeuf,  and  I  know  not  what  instigators  of  mischief  be 
sides,  are  said  to  be  among  them  f  Pity  is  it  truly  that  so  much 
learning  and  so  great  zeal  should  be  expended  in  so  bad  a  cause!" 

"  It  was  known  before  I  left  England  that  these  men  had  made 
some  little  progress  among  the  natives  in  Southern  America, 
where  gold  and  silver  abound ;  but  who  would  have  looked  for 
them  in  these  colder  and  comparatively  inhospitable  regions  ? 
May  there  not  be  some  error  in  this  matter,  and  our  fears  of  the 
dreaded  Order  have  converted  interested  and  malignant  traders 
into  members  of  the  so-styled  Company  of  Jesus  ?" 

"  It  may  be  so,  for  our  information  is  not  so  accurate  as  I  wish 
but  this  we  do  knowj  that  a  strange  activity  hath  of  late  mani 
fested  itself  in  the  movements  of  these  foul  conspirators,  against 
uncorruptfed  Christianity  the  world  over  ;  and  only  a  short  time 
since  was  it  that  godly  Mr.  Eliot  discovered,  on  the  neck  of  a 
squaw,  one  of  their  brass  idols  made  into  the  image  of  the  Cruci- 


228  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE. 

fied,  which,  in  righteous  indignation,  he  took  away  from  the 
woman.  Deluded  and  deluding,  alas,  if  they  have  found  their 
way  into  this  land  !" 

"  li:  is  not  necessary  to  suppose  the  presence  of  any  member  of 
the  Company  of  Jesus,  in  order  to  account  for  the  image  on  the 
neck  of  the  Indian  woman.  The  French  traders  are  Catholics, 
and  one  of  them  might  have  given  it  to  her." 

"  True ;  yet  doth  my  jealous  mind  connect  these  men  with 
every  perversion  and  corruption  of  Gospel  tiuth.  They  are  at 
this  moment  as  well  the  plotting  mind  as  the  executing  arm  of 
the  rotten  Church  of  Rome.  The  spirit  cf  Loyola  would  seem 
lately  to  have  left  Hades,  to  animate  his  followers  upon  earth. 
Be  sure,  Sir  Christopher,  that  where  error  and  mischief  are,  there 
is  the  Jesuit." 

"L  io  ever  a  consolation,"  said  the  Kivgjii,  devou-ly,  "  and  in 
especial  in  'hese  troublous  times,  thri  the  Founder  of  the  Church 
hath  piomised  to  be  with  her  to  the  ei-tl  of  the  world,  and  that 
the  gates  01  hell  shall  noo  prevail  agaii-si;  Lev.*' 

"If  they  have  stolen  among  the  innocent  na lives  Io  intercept 
that  knowledge  of  divine  truth  wliicli  it  is  oar  purpose  to  im 
part,  we  will,  by  God's  grace,  defeat  their  designs  and  bring  to 
naught  their  inventions.  In  this  Christian  work  it  may  be  my 
desire  to  engage  your  services,  Sir  Christopher." 

"  It  needs  njt  that  I  should  make  protestations  of  zeal,  or 
offers  of  my  poor  self ;  yet  do  my  feelings  prompt  me  to  say  that 
my  badge  *  the  honey-bee,'  is  not  more  diligent  in  colleciing  his 
precious  store  than  I  will  be  in  such  a  ruuse." 

"  Then  expect  to  have  thy  zeal  and  courage  put  to  the  test. 
Should  I  request  thee  to  visit  the  Taranteens  in  their  own  coun 
try,  what  would  be  thy  reply?" 

The  Knight  paused,  as  if  the  question  was  of  importance  suffi 
cient  to  require  consideration,  so  long,  indeed,  that  Winthrop 
thought  it  proper  to  resume. 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.      229 

"  I  know,"  he  said,  "  that  it  is  a  service  not  unattended  with 
danger  ;  yet  d.'d  danger  never  frighten  a  noble  soul,  but  doth 
ever  act  as  an  incentive.  There  is  no  one  save  thyself  well  ac 
quainted  with  the  tongue  of  these  savages,  (Mr.  Eliot's  knowledge 
thereof,  I  observe,  is  imperfect,  and  he  is  in  other  respects  but 
poorly  qualified  for  the  enterprise),  and  who  would  be  able  to 
make  the  impression  upon  them  and  obtain  the  information  which 
I  desire." 

"  Disclose  more  perfectly  your  wishes,  right  worshipful  sir," 
said  Sir  Christopher. 

"  I  call  thee  to  a  danger  which,  possessed  I  thy  marvellous 
skill  in  languages,  I  myself  would  meet.  I  will  unbosom  myself. 
The  thought  of  a  conflict  with  the  Taranteens  distresses  me.  It 
can  result  only  in  ruin  to  them  and  injury  to  the  budding  pros 
pects  of  our  colony.  Our  interest  is  peace.  We  want  trade 
with  the  natives.  We  want  their  confidence.  Without  the  lat 
ter  there  can  be  no  trade,  neither  can  we  counteract  the  plots 
of  our  enemies,  nor  find  opportunity  to  introduce  the  Gospel 
among  them.  The  mysterious  calamity  which  befel  the  embassy 
hath  sadly  shaken  my  expectations ;  but  I  am  unwilling  to  aban 
don  the  field.  What  means  are  in  my  power  I  will  apply  to 
restore  a  good  understanding.  "Moreover,  I  would  be  more  fully 
assured  of  the  truth  or  falsehood  of  the  reports  that  there  are 
Jesuits  among  the  Taranteens.  Where  is  the  man  more  compe 
tent  to  take  upon  himself  this  important  trust — one  which  hath 
for  its  object  to  prevent  effusion  of  blood — to  detect  the  traitorous 
plots  of  a  wily  and  deadly  foe,  and  to  advance  the  cause  of  una 
dulterated  religion,  than  thyself?" 

The  Knight  bowed  in  acknowledgment  of  the  compliment,  but 
said  nothing. 

"  I  seem  to  see  the  finger  of  God  displayed,"  continued  Win- 
throp.  "  For  this  very  purpose  wert  thou  sent  among  us; 
yet,  noble  sir,  notwithstanding  the  importance  of  the  object  to 


230  THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

be  attained  and  the  honor  to  accrue  to  him  who  shall  secure 
them  for  us,  let  me  not  urge  thee  unreasonably.  Seest  thou  im 
minent  danger  in  the  enterprise,  undertake  it  not.  I  pray  thee, 
without  regarding  aught  that  I  have  said,  to  act  according  to  thy 
better  judgment." 

"  It  was  through  no  apprehension  of  peril  that  I  was  silent," 
said  the  Knight.  "  Danger  and  I  have  been  too  long  acquainted 
to  distrust  one  another.  I  did  but  turn  over  in  my  mind  the 
proper  means  to  accomplish  your  designs.  I  place  myself  at  your 
disposal,  and  am  only  rejoiced  that  (lamenting  the  occasion)  I  can 
be  employed  in  any  manner  to  advance  a  good  work." 

"  Heartily  I  thank  thee,  Sir  Christopher,  for  the  cheerful  ten 
der  of  thy  service,  though  it  was  only  what  was  to  be  expected 
from  a  man  of  thy  chivalric  temper.  I  will  take  this  thing  into 
further  consideration,  and  will  shortly  acquaint  thee  with  my 
conclusion." 

"  And,  meanwhile,  I  will  prepare  myself  to  fulfil  the  wishes  of 
your  worship,"  answered  the  Knight,  preparing  to  take  leave. 

"  Commend  me,"  said  Winthrop,  "  to  the  friendly  thoughts 
of  Lady  Geraldine,  with  sincerest  hopes  that  the  peace  which 
surpasseth  understanding  may  nestle  into  her  heart  to  chase 
away  her  melancholy,  and  may  her  steps  be  guided  unto  the 
true  fold,  where  only  safety  is  to  be  found." 

"  With  many  thanks,"  returned  the  Knight,  "  I  seek!  my  her 
mitage  in  the  woods." 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


"  A  something  light  as  air — a  look — 
A  word  unkind,  or  wrongly  taken — 

Oh,  love  !  that  tempest  never  shook, 
A  breath,  a  touch  like  this,  hath  shaken.' 


MOORB. 


SIR  CHRISTOPHER,  on  leaving  the  Governor,  proceeded  in  the 
direction  of  the  hostelry,  where  he  had  left  his  horse  ;  and  on  his 
way  was  greeted  with  one  of  those  sights  to  be  seen  only  in  this 
strange  commonwealth.  It  was  a  woman  in  the  stocks,  being  no 
other  than  an  old  acquaintance,  Dame  Bars,  the  wife  of  the 
jailer.  The  good  woman  possessed  a  kind  heart,  but  she  was  not 
perfection.  She  had  a  weakness  for  a  pot  of  ale  ;  and,  if  justice 
had  in  anywise  been  done  to  the  proportion  of  malt  therein,  it 
was  very  apt  to  make  her  eloquent  to  an  extraordinary  degree. 
On  these  occasions,  feeling  herself  to  be  clearly  in  the  right,  she 
found  it  difficult  to  endure  contradiction,  considering  it  excess 
ively  unreasonable  and  rude,  and  expressing  her  sentiments  there 
upon  with  great  freedom.  In  one  of  these  moods,  she  had  been 
overheard  by  Master  Prout,  in  a  colloquy  with  one  of  her  gos 
sips,  contrasting  the  "  wearyful  and  forlorn"  condition  of  women 
in  the  colony  with  the  merry  times  she  used  to  have  in  England  ; 
and  upon  her  friend  suggesting  a  few  words  in  favor  of  the 
change,  bursting  out  with  sundry  epithets  more  sounding  than 
musical,  and  more  energetic  than  complimentary. 


232  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE. 

We  will  not  pretend  to  say  whether  Master  Prout  was  more 
scandalized  by  the  sentiment  of  dissatisfaction  at  the  colony,  or 
by  there  proaches  lavished  on  the  other  goody,  who,  indeed,  to 
do  her  justice,  was  not  slo.v  in  the  use  of  that  formidable 
weapon  wherewith  Nature,  as  if  to  make  amends  for  physical 
weakness,  has  armed  the  lovelier  sex.  It  may  be  that  both  com 
bined  roused  his  righteous  indignation,  in  consequence  whereof 
Dame  Bars  had  to  expiate  the  sins  of  her  tongue  by  silencing  its 
eloquence  in  a  cleft  stick,  and  cooling  her  heels  in  the  stocks. 

But  the  appearance  of  the  poor  woman  was  now  anything  but 
belligerent.  So  far  from  manifesting  a  refractory  disposition, 
her  face  was  covered  with  her  hands,  and  tears  of  shame  and 
mortification  were  stealing  through  the  fingers.  Pier  husband 
was  standing  by  her  side,  and  endeavoring  to  comfort  her,  while 
Master  Prout,  with  his  long  staff,  was  threatening  some  idle 
school  boys,  who,  with  the  mischief  natural  to  their  age,  were 
showing  an  inclination  to  proceed  to  extremities  against  the  cap 
tive,  which  was  not  approved  by  the  grave  custode  of  order. 

As  the  Knight  drew  nigh,  a  feeling  of  pity  was  excited  in  him, 
and  he  stopped,  and  addressed  some  words  to  the  officer  of  the  law. 

"  I  am  unwilling,"  said  Master  Prout,  in  reply,  "  to  refuse 
any  thing  to  a  gentleman  so  highly  esteemed  by  the  Governor,  as 
yourself,  Sir  Christopher,  and  therefore  will  I  release  the  woman  ; 
but  truly  was  it  my  intention  to  detain  her  an  hour  or  two  longer, 
in  order  that  she  might  have  time  for  serious  and  profitable  re 
flection.  Verily,  as  saith  James,  in  his  epistle,  the  tongue  can  no 
man  tame  ;  it  is  an  unruly  evil,  full  of  deadly  poison." 

"  Methinks  then,"  said  the  Knight,  smiling,  u  thou  hast  per 
formed  an  achievement  which  holy  St.  James  himself  might  deem 
a  miracle,  for  the  good  dame's  tongue  is  tame  enough  at  present." 

Master  Prout' s  demure  features  ventured  as  near  to  a  smile  at 
the  jest,  as  his  principles  would  permit,  and  then  approaching  the 
woman,  he  unfastened  the  stocks,  and  allowed  her  to  withdraw 
the  imprisoned  members. 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  233 

"  Good  woman,"  he  said,  "thank  this  noble  Knight  for  thy 
deliverance,  and  may  this  be  the  last  time  that  these  wooden  bars 
shall  contract  a  friendship  for  thee." 

So  spoke  Master  Prout,  with  a  twinkle  of  the  eye  at  the  Knight, 
on  account  of  the  good  thing  wl  dch  he  fancied  he  had  said,  and 
the  woman  lost  no  time  in  extricating  herself  from  durance.  Her 
face  was  crimsoned  with  blushes ;  she  dropped  a  curtsey  to  the 
Knight,  and  hurried  off  with  her  husband. 

"  Master  Prout,"  said  the  Knight,  as  he  turned  away,  accept 
my  thanks  for  the  courtesy,  and  believe  me  that  thou  hast  made 
me  so  much  tliy  friend,  thou  hast  only  to  express  a  wish,  and  if 
it  is  in  my  power  it  shall  be  granted." 

On  arriving  at  the  inn,  Sir  Christopher  ordered  immediately 
his  horse,  and  mounting,  rode  homeward.  At  a  slow  pace  he 
proceeded  through  the  streets,  and  allowed  the  animal,  with  the 
rein  lying  loose  upon  his  neck,  to  follow  the  winding  path  in  the 
forest.  No  adventure  befel  him  on  his  solitary  ride,  and  in  due 
time  he  reached  his  home.  He  was  met  by  Philip  Joy,  to  whom 
he  delivered  the  horse. 

"  Is  the  Indian  whom  I  left  in  thy  charge^afe  T9  he  inquired. 

"  He  is,  Sir  Christopher,"  answered  the  soldier. 

"  Sassacus  has  not  seen  him,  I  trust." 

"  No  one  has  seen  him  but  myself.  I  have  faithfully  followed 
your  orders,  and  kept  him  like  a  rat  in  a  trap.  He  takes  to  eat 
ing  and  sleeping  prodigious  kindly,  and  has  shown  no  disposition 
to  do  any  thing  else." 

"  It  is  natural  he  should  do  so,  and  you  have  acted  with  dis 
cretion." 

With  these  words  Sir  Christopher  entered  the  house,  and 
straightway  proceeded  to  find  the  Indian.  He  was  lying  on  the 
floor,  apparently  asleep,  but  at  the  noise  of  the  opening  door, 
roused  himself  and  sat  upright. 

"  How  have  my  people  treated  Mesandowit  in  my  absence  f 
inquired  the  Knight. 

10* 


234:  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

7  • .  "..Well,"  answered  the  savage.  "  Mesandowit  has  eaten,  and 
;  drank;  an<J  slegt^  and  is, refreshed.",  ;  _.;  - 1  ^ 

"  Is  he  ready  to  return  to  his?pwn  poultry?"  ?.  ,  . 

"  Mesandowit  is  ready."        .  ..    ,- .,    •  •  , 

"  When  the  trees  cast  long  shadows  he  shall  return,  and  I  will 
go  a  little  distance  with  him,  lest  he  should  meet  the  Aberginians." 

"  Good— and  now  Mesandowit  will  sleep."  He  stretched  him 
self  again  upon  the  skin,  which  served  for  a  couch,  probably  not 
entirely  rested  after  the  long  and  rapid  journey  he  had  made,  and 
disposed  himself  to  slumber.  The  Knight,  on  leaving  him,  went 
to  the  door  of  the  lady's  apartment,  and  gently  rapped. 

It  was  opened  by  the  Indian  girl,  and  he  was  immediately  ad 
mitted. 

"  Celestina,"  said  the  Knight,  looking  first  at  her  and  then  at 
her  little  attendant,  "  I  have  something  to  say  to  thee." 

"  Neebin,"  said  the  lady,  addressing  the  child,  "  may  run  about 
in  the  woods  a  little  while." 

When  the  girl  had  departed,  the  Knight,  seating  himself  at 
some  distance  from  the  lady,  opened  the  conversation. 

"  Celestina,"  he  said,  "  there  has  been  of  late  a  want  of  that 
frankness  which  characterized  our  intercourse  at  our  arrival  in 
this  country,  and  for  some  time  thereafter.  Will  you  not  tell 
me  the  cause  ?" 

"  Sir  Christopher,"  replied  the  lady,  "  a  suspicious  mind  is 
ofttimes  deceived  by  its  imaginations.  Wherein,  pray,  has  been 
a  change  in  my  conduct  ?" 

"  Nay.  I  know  not  that  I  can  say,  in  this  and  in  that  thou 
hast  not  trusted  me,  but  I  feel  that  it  is  so." 

"  Look  into  thyself,  Sir  Christopher,  and  there  wilt  thou  find 
the  cause.  The  outer  world  is  but  a  reflection  of  the  inner." 

"  I  protest,  Celestina,  I  am  not  altered.  Thou  art  to  me  as 
ever,  my  trusty  and  valued  associate,  bound  to  me  by  ties  of  pe 
culiar  significancy,  and  as  sacred  as  those  which  commonly  unite 
man  and  woman. 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.      285 

"  It  is  my  dearest  wish  that  thou  shouldst  feel  the  full  force  of 
the  obligation  they  impose  on  thee." 

"  Do  I  not  ?  Have  I  not  labored  with  untiring  diligence  to 
promote  the  end  we  both  have  in  view  ?  Wherein  have  I  failed  ? 
Point  out  the  error,  and  I  will  correct  it." 

"  I  do  not  presume  to  be  so  bold.  The  masculine  energy  of 
Sir  Christopher  Gardiner  is  not  to  be  guided  by  a  woman." 

"  Alas!  Celestina,"  said  the  Knight,  with  some  feeling,  "were 
we  not  joined  in  this  holy  enterprise  because  it  was  supposed  the 
fulness  of  the  one  might  supply  the  deficiency  of  the  other  1  O, 
turn  not  away  so  coldly." 

"  My  warm  devotion,  my  active  zeal,  shall  never  be  wanting  to 
the  work  whereunto  we  are  pledged ;  and  if  any  feeling  hath 
arisen  inconsistent  with  the  harmony  that  should  unite  us,  I  am 
not  sensible  that  it  springs  from  any  fault  of  mine.  But  you  ex 
aggerate,"  she  added,  smiling,  "  my  momentary  sadness  into  un 
necessary  importance — a  sadness  wherewith  thou  mayst  have  no 
connection." 

"  Thou  canst  not  deceive  me,  Celestina.  I  have  profited  little 
by  the  lessons  of  this  world,  and  feeling  was  given  me  in  vain,  were 
I  incapable  of  noticing  the  change  in  thee.  There  was  a  time 
when  thy  spirit,  like  a  musical  string  in  accord  with  another,  vi 
brated  in  harmony  with  mine — but  it  is  no  longer  so." 

"  Thou  art  importunate,  Sir  Christopher.  Wilt  thou  not  be 
lieve  what  I  say  *?" 

. "  Pardon  me  if  I  am  over  urgent,  and  ascribe  it  to  the  value 
I  attach  to  my  lost  treasure.  It  sweetened  the  solitude  of  exile, 
and  made  me  almost  forget  the  attractions  of  stirring  Europe. 
But  thou  dost  not,  and  canst  not  deny  my  complaint." 

"  Is  there  not  enough  in  the  circumstances  wherein  I  am 
placed,  to  agitate  the  timid  heart  of  a  woman,  and  account  for  her 
unreasonable  caprices  ?  Why  persist  in  connecting  them  with 
thyself  as  the  cause  ?" 


236  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

"  This  is  not  the  first  time  that  I  have  vainly  endeavored  to 
discover  wherein  I  have  offended,  that  by  the  humiliation  of  my 
self,  or  by  any  other  means,  I  might  restore  the  unison  that  be 
fore  existed  between  us.  I  conjure  thee,  Celestina,"  he  said, 
approaching  and  taking  her  hand  into  one  of  his,  while  with  the 
other  he  drew  back  a  curtain  on  the  wall,  which,  on  being  with 
drawn,  exposed  to  view  the  carved  figure  of  Christ  extended  on 
the  cross,  "  by  the  Captain  of  our  faith,  whose  soldiers  we  are, 
to  put  away  this  estrangement,  which  if  it  does  not  defeat,  may 
hazard  and  retard  our  mutual  plans." 

The  lady  withdrew  not  her  hand,  but  allowing  it  to  remain  in 
his,  stood  up.  She  bowed  her  head  before  the  crucifix,  and  mur 
mured — Dainine  Jesu  speravi  in  te.  Turning  then  to  the  Knight 
she  said — 

"Sir  Christopher,  look  upon  that  sorrowful  face,  and  that 
drooping  head,  bleeding  under  the  points  of  the  accursed  thorns. 
Thy  sins  and  mine  gave  them  their  sharpness.  Gaze  upon 
the  hideous  nails  that  pierce  those  blessed  hands  and  feet,  and 
upon  the  blood  trickling  from  that  divine  side,  and  say,  canst 
thou  be  untrue  to  him  ?" 

i     "  Woman !  Celestina  !  what  meanest  thou  ?     Why  this  solemn 
adjuration  ?" 

"  Thou  wert  dedicated  to  a  service,"  she  continued,  her  pale 
face  flushing  with  enthusiasm,  "  to  which  nobles  and  kings,  the 
proudest  and  noblest  of  easth,  might  aspire.  Do  thy  devoir,  and 
incalculable  will  be  thy  reward ;  fail  therein,  and  the  doom  of 
Judas  were  heaven  to  thy  fate." 

"Thou  art  mad,  Celestina.  Some  dreadful  delusion  hath 
blinded  thy  understanding.  Hear  me  now" — and  he  bent  down 
and  kissed  the  feet  of  the  image  of  the  Saviour,  and  then  raising 
his  head  fixed  his  eyes  upon  it — "  per  ad  vent  um  tuum,  per  nati- 
vitatem  tuam,  per  baptismum  et  sanctum  jejunium  tuum,  per  cru- 
cem  et  passionem  tuam,  per  mortem  et  sepulturam  tuam,  per 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  237 

sanctam  resurrectionem  tuam,  et~per  admirabilem  ascensionem 
tuam — T  am  guilty,  truly,  of  weakness  and  ignorance,  and  unin 
tentional  sin,  but  not  of  want  of  faithfulness  to  that  whereunto 
thou  hast  called  me." 

"  Sir  Christopher  !  Oh  !  Sir  Christopher,"  cried  the  lady,  fall 
ing  at  his  feet,  "Wherefore,  when  I  besought  thee  before  to 
explain  thy  conduct,  did  you  treat  me  so  slightingly  ?  Wherefore 
ever  refuse  to  satisfy  my  questions?" 

"  Because  I  considered  them  unworthy  of  thee  and  me ;  be 
cause  I  regarded  them  as  the  petulance  of  a  passing  feminine 
curiosity  ;  because  I  knew  not  how  serious  was  thy  desire  ?" 

"  Deus  adjuva  me  /"  sobbed  the  lady. 

"  Rise,  my  sister,"  said  the  Knight,  assisting  her  to  a  seat. 
"  Henceforth  let  no  distrust  exist  between  us,  and,  that  it  may  be 
so,  inquire,  and  I  will  answer  as  at  the  confessional." 

Of  the  conversation  which  ensued  we  shall  give  no  account, 
save  that,  at  its  conclusion,  tears  were  flowing  plentifully  from 
the  eyes  of  the  lady,  while  the  Knight  seemed  puzzled  at  her  ex 
traordinary  emotion. 

"  Celestina,"  he  said,  "thou  art  moved  beyond  what  thy  venial 
fault  requires,  forgive  thyself  as  freely  as  I  forgive  thee." 

"  Thou  knowest  not  all  my  sin,"  she  answered,  "  nor  dare  I 
trust  it  to  the  air,  lest  my  own  words  should  strike  me  dead. 
Sancta  Maria,  ora  pro  nobis  /" 

When  the  Knight  left  the  room,  she  fell  upon  her  knees  before 
the  crucifix  and  buried  her  face  in  her  hands.  She  remained  in 
this  position  for  perhaps  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  during  which  time 
only  an  occasional  sob  escaped  her,  and  then  rising,  passed  into 
an  inner  chamber. 

As  for  Sir  Christopher,  neither  did  he  make  his  appearance 
until  late  in  the  afternoon,  when  he  emerged  from  the  house  in 
the  company  of  the  soldier  Joy  and  the  Indian,  whom  he  called 
Mesandowit.  The  course  they  took  was  in  a  northerly  direc- 


238  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

ticn,  and  as  they  proceeded,  the  Knight  was  engaged  in  earnest 
conversation  with  the  Indian.  In  this  manner  they  went  on 
long  after  the  sun  had  set,  even  until  the  position  of  the  stars 
announced  that  the  hour  of  midnight  was  at  hand.  There  must 
have  been  some  danger  to  the  savage  feared  by  the  Knight  to  in 
duce  him  to  lend  his  escort  thus  far.  But  they  met  nothing  to 
excite  apprehension.  Silence  reigned  throughout  the  unviolated 
forest,  unbroken  save  by  the  cry  of  a  night  bird,  or  the  stealthy 
step  of  some  wild  beast  stealing  through  the  thickets,  or  the 
cracking  of  dry  branches  under  their  own  feet,  or  their  mur 
mured  conversation.  It  was  at  least  six  hours  since  they  left  the 
house  of  the  Knight,  and  the  distance  passed  over  could  not  be 
less  than  eighteen  or  twenty  miles.  The  three  stopped,  and,  be 
fore  parting,  it  seemed  that  the  Knight  was  desirous  of  impress 
ing  more  strongly  on  the  mind  of  his  red  companion  something 
which  he  had  already  been  urging. 

"  Has  what  I  have  said  sunk  into  the  ears  of  Mesandowit  ?" 
he  asked. 

"  It  has  sunk  very  deep,  even  as  a  stone  when  it  falls  into  the 
great  salt  lake." 

"  Will  he  remember  the  place  ?" 

"  He  will  remember  it.  MesandoAvit  once  took  two  scalps 
there." 

Self-possessed  as  in  general  was  Sir  Christopher,  the  reply 
startled  him ;  but  the  association  in  the  mind  of  the  savage  was 
too  obvious  to  excite  alarm  long,  and  it  was  without  feeling  any 
he  replied.  He  thought  proper,  however,  to  remind  the  Indian 
of  the  friendly  relation  he  stood  in  to  his  tribe  and  of  the  favor 
he  had  done  them. 

"  The  Sagamore  and  his  Paniese,"  he  said,  "  who  brought  the 
defiance  of  the  Taranteens  to  the  English,  have  returned  safe  to 
their  people.  Let  not  the  Taranteens  forget  when  I  come  to 
visit  them  that  they  spoke  through  my  mouth,  and  that  I  stood 
between  them  and  the  anger  of  sachem  Winthrop." 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  239 

The  Taranteens  never  forget.  Mesandowit  will  tell  them  how 
Soog-u-gest  flew  to  Shawmut,  when  Mesandowit,  of  the  swift 
foot,  brought  a  message  from  the  sachems  of  the  Taranteens,  that 
they  desired  him  to  take  care  of  the  two  warriors  who  brought 
the  red  arrows  tied  up  with  with  a  snake  skin  as  a  present  to 
Owanux.  The  Taranteens  are  a  great  people  and  forget  not  a 
benefit," 

"  I  am  unable  to  fix  the  exact  time  ;"  said  the  Knight ;  "  but 
the  young  moon  that  looks  now  like  the  eye  brow  of  Mesandowit, 
will  probably  not  be  round  before  we  shall  meet  again." 

They  parted  at  these  words,  and  while  Sir  Christopher  and 
Philip  turned  their  faces  homeward,  the  Taranteen  pursued  the 
same  direction  in  which  they  had  been  traveling.  Fatigued  with 
the  distance  they  had  come,  it  was  now  with  a  more  leisurely 
pace  the  two  proceeded,  and,  walking  for  the  most  part  in  silence, 
the  sun  had  risen  before  they  reached  home. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


When  shaws  beene  sheene  and  shrads  full  fayre, 

And  leaves  both  large  and  longe, 
lit  is  merrye  walking  in  the  faire  forrest, 

To  hear  the  small  birdes  songe. 

BALLAD  OF  ROBIN  HOOD  AND  GUT  OF  GISBORNE. 


THE  project  of  Governor  Winthrop  of  sending  an  embassy 
to  the  Taranteens  met  with  general  favor  among  his  councillors. 
All  agreed  that  war  with  the  ferocious  savages  was,  if  possible, 
to  be  avoided  under  any  circumstances,  but  especially  now  when 
the  English  must  appear  to  the  natives  to  be  stained  with  the 
crime  of  a  dastardly  breach  of  faith  and  murder  unparalleled  in 
atrocity.  The  conduct  of  Winthrop  in  returning  a  bold  defiance 
to  their  threats,  was  also  approved,  (for  in  treating  with  them,  an 
exhibition  of  a  want  of  co?'fidencc  would  be  considered  a  con 
fession  of  weakness,  and  only  serve  to  precipitate  the  calamity 
to  be  avoided,)  but  it  complicated  the  diUkulty,  if  that  were  pos- 
siblo,  and  embarrassed  any  attempt  at  reconciliation.  The  Tar 
anteens  were  felt  to  occupy  a  position  of  great  advantage,  and 
likely  to  attract  the  sympathy  of  the  Indians  generally,  and  even 
to  unite  tribes  before  hostile  to  one  another  against  the  perfidious 
Owanux.  To  the  Taranteens  no  blame  could  be  attached.  They 
had  been  guilty  of  no  breach  of  faith  ;  they  had  acted  like  brave 
and  honorable  men.  Even  after  the  outrage  upon  them  they  had 


24:2  THE   KNIGHT   OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

respected  their  wild  code  of  honor,  nor  would  commence  hostili 
ties,  until  like  the  snake,  whose  warning  rattles  they  sent,  they 
had  apprised  the  enemy  of  their  intention.  But  the  challenge 
had  been  given  and  accepted,  and  a  state  of  war  initiate!.  Soon 
might  their  war-parties  be  expected  to  fill  the  forests,  cutting  off 
stragglers  and  attacking  any  bodies  of  men  which  they  should 
deem  inferior  in  strength  to  their  own.  Hence  the  danger  of 
traveling  in  the  woods,  and  especially  of  attempting  to  penetrate 
into  that  remote  region,  the  habitation  of  the  hostile  tribe  was 
greatly  increased.  Where  was  the  man  daring  enough  to  en 
counter  the  peril  unless  supported  by  a  military  force,  which 
would  give  the  embassy  more  the  appearance  of  a  foray  than  of 
a  tender  of  peace?  Such  an  armed  band  would  only  invite  at 
tack.  Besides  it  was  inconvenient,  and  indeed  of  the  highest 
detriment  to  the  colony,  to  take  off  so  many  able-bodied  men  as 
would  be  necessary  for  the  purpose,  from  the  cultivation  of  the 
fields,  and  those  other  industrial  pursuits  upon  which  the  existence 
of  the  colonists  depended,  even  though  they  should  all  return  safe 
to  their  homes — a  result  by  no  means  to  be  expected. 

When,  therefore,  Winthrop  suggested  Sir  Christopher  Gardiner 
as  a  proper  person,  from  his  familiarity  with  the  habits  of  the 
natives,  and  his  knowledge  of  their  language,  to  undertake  the 
enterprise,  it  is  no  wonder  that  the  proposition  was  favorably  re 
ceived.  All  felt  it  to  be  a  service  of  danger ;  it  was  highly  de 
sirable  that  it  should  be  attempted ;  no  one  was  so  well  fitted  for 
it  as  the  Knight ;  and  were  the  effort  at  reconciliation  to  termi 
nate  fatally,  the  loss  of  no  one  would  be  less  regretted  by  several 
of  the  Assistants.  For  there  were  among  them  some  who  were 
no  friends  of  the  Knight,  and  would  gladly  have  had  him  out  of 
the  colony ;  either  not  liking  his  intimacy  with  the  natives,  or  sus 
picious  of  the  circumstance,  that,  although  he  had  offered  to  unite 
himself  with  the  congregation,  he  had,  somehow  or  other,  never 
done  so,  either  in  consequence  of  doubts  entertained  respecting  the 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  243 

soundness  of  his  faith,  or  some  unknown  cause.  This  feeling 
was  heightened  by  a  jealousy  of  the  favor  enjoyed  by  the  Knight 
with  Winthrop — a  favor  which,  some  declared,  warped  the  better 
judgment  of  the  Governor.  In  proof  of  this,  they  pointed  to 
the  remission  (at  the  intercession  of  Sir  Christopher)  of  a  part  of 
the  punishment  of  one  Ratcliffe,  who  had  incurred  the  vengeance 
of  the  law,  and  also  of  the  indulgence  shown  to  Philip  Joy.  At 
the  head  of  these  malcontents  was  the  Assistant  Spikeman — one 
who,  by  his  evil  propensities  and  incapacity  to  appreciate  the 
noble  sentiments  of  Winthrop,  stood  to  him  in  a  certain  relation 
of  hostility.  For  there  is  no  law  more  prevailing  than  that  evil 
hates  good,  compelled  thereto  by  the  very  constitution  of  its 
nature.  Indeed,  it  is  evil  by  reason  of  that  hatred  ;  when  that 
ceases,  evil  ceases  also. 

By  no  one  was  the  proposal  to  entrust  the  business  to  Sir  Chris 
topher,  if  he  would  accept  it — for  the  cautious  Winthrop  did  not 
allude  to  the  understanding  betwixt  himself  and  the  Knight  — 
received  with  more  favor  than  by  Spikeman.  He  was  eloquent 
in  praise  of  the  qualifications  of  the  proposed  envoy,  and  de 
rided  the  danger,  expressing  a  conviction  that  it  would  be  easy 
for  him,  if  he  chose,  to  restore  peaceable  relations.  The  qualifi 
cation  in  the  speech  of  the  Assistant  was  noticed  by  Winthrop, 
and  he  intimated  astonishment  at  the  suspicion,  and  wonder  at 
the  willingness  of  one  who  felt  it,  to  entrust  tho  commission  in 
such  hands.  But  the  artful  Spikeman  easily  extricated  himself 
from  so  slight  a  difficulty,  alleging,  as  the  cause  of  the  doubt,  the 
want  of  that  Christian  bond  on  the  part  of  the  Knight,  without 
which  no  one  could  be  entitled  .to  the  entire  confidence  due  to  one 
in  full  communion. 

When  the  Assistant  left  the  Council,  he  debated  with  himself 
how,  if  Sir  Christopher  accepted  the  service,  he  might  join  Arun- 
del,  and  the  soldier  Joy  with  him.  Could  he  succeed,  he  consi 
dered  that  he  would  be  in  a  fair  way  to  rid  himself  at  once  of 


24:4:  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

three  persons  who  interfered  with  his  designs.  The  heat  of  his 
animosity  was  directed  indeed  principally  against  Arundel  and 
Joy,  the  Knight  coming  in  for  a  portion  as  their  favorer  and 
abettor.  But  in  the  pursuit  of  an  object,  no  scruples  of  conscience 
ever  interfered  with  the  plans  of  Spikeman,  willing  to  involve 
alike  friend  and  foe  in  one  common  destruction,  if  so  only  his 
purposes  could  be  accomplished.  Pie  calculated  somewhat  upon 
the  bold  temper  of  Arundel,  and  also  upon  his  regard  for  the 
Knight,  by  whose  side  he  doubted  not  the  young  man  would  be 
willing  to  defy  any  danger  to  which  the  other  would  expose 
himself. 

With  this  view  he  took  care,  by  means  of  his  spy,  Ephraim 
Pike,  to  acquaint  Arundel  with  the  honor  intended  for  Sir  Chris 
topher.  The  expedition  was  represented  by  Pike  as  a  mere  party 
of  pleasure,  and  as  affording  fine  opportunities  for  observing  the 
tribes  in  their  native  haunts.  The  good  sense  of  the  young  man, 
and  the  experience  he  already  had,  taught  him  better  than  to  re 
gard  it  exactly  in  the  light  wherein  the  spy  exhibited  it ;  but, 
though  conscious  that  there  must  be  danger,  in  the  excited  con 
dition  of  the  Taranteens,  he  could  not  believe  it  to  be  great,  else 
neither  would  Winthrop  ask  such  exposure  of  life,  nor  would  the 
Knight  accept  of  the  enterprise.  As  for  what  danger  was  to  be 
encountered ,  it  rather  stimulated  than  deterred  in  the  desire  to 
partake  of  it,  as  the  lion  hunt  has  greater  attractions  for  the 
hunter  than  the  chase  of  the  deer.  Some  w<  >rds  dropped  from 
Pike  about  the  woodcraft  of  Joy,  and  his  bravery  ;  but  he  dared 
not  speak  plainer  for  fear  of  betraying  himself. 

The  information  of  Pike,  it  seems,  was  not  without  effect,  for 
early  on  the  morning  of  the  following  clay,  Arundel  started  for 
the  habitation  of  his  friend,  taking  with  him  what  he  considered 
necessary  for  a  distant  journey  in  the  woods.  The  distance  was 
passed  over  in  a  couple  of  hours ;  but,  early  as  it  was,  he  found 
that  a  messenger  had  anticipated  him.  This  he  discovered,  as 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.      245 

well  from  the  language  of  the  Knight,  who  stood  in  the  porch  of 
his  house  with  a  letter  in  his  hand,  as  from  the  appearance  of  the 
man  with  whom  he  was  conversing,  whom  Arundel  perceived 
was  one  of  the  soldiers  who  ordinarily  mounted  guard  before 
the  door  of  the  Governor. 

"  This,"  said  the  Knight,  handing  the  letter  to  the  messenger, 
"  to  Governor  Winthrop,  and  a  fair  return  to  thyself." 

The  man  took  the  letter,  and,  after  making  the  military  salute 
of  the  period,  turned  on  his  way  to  Boston. 

"  Here  has  come,"  said  Sir  Christopher,  after  the  usual  greet 
ings,  "  a  request  from  the  Governor  that  I  would  undertake  an 
embassy  to  the  Taranteens,  to  soothe  their  excited  minds  and 
prevent  an  outbreak." 

"May  I  inquire  what  is  your  reply  ?"  asked  Arundel. 

"  How  canst  thou  doubt  ?  Surely,  where  honor  and  good 
deeds  invite,  no  true  knight  can  turn  back." 

"  I  am  to  understand,  then,  that  you  have  accepted  the  office 
of  mediator  ?" 

"  I  have  accepted  the  trust,  hoping  that  good  may  grow  out 
thereof." 

"  And  when  is  it  you  purpose  to  depart  f 

11  Incontinently.     The  matter  brooks  no  delay." 

"  Then  have  I  a  petition  to  prefer,  which,  I  hope,  will  meet 
with  the  same  favor  as  the  Governor's.  Let  me  attend  thee  on 
this  journey." 

The  suddenness  of  the  request  appeared  to  embarrass  the 
Knight  for  an  instant ;  but  it  was  only  for  an  instant. 

"  Hast  thou  fully  considered,"  he  asked,  "  the  perils  whereunto 
thou  dost  expose  thy  young  life "?  What  would  be  the  condition 
of  Eveline  Dunning  shouldst  thou  never  return  ?" 

"  My  life  is  not  more  valuable  than  thine,  and  the  situa 
tion  of  Eveline  would  be  no  worse  than  that  of  thine  own 
relative." 


2i6  THE   KNIGHT   OF  THE   GOLDEN     MELICE. 

"  Aye,  but  consider  the  difference  in  our  positions.  Glory,  duty, 
summon  me  irresistibly  ;  whereas,  thou  hast  no  calling  other  than 
curiosity." 

"  Say  not  so,"  exclaimed  the  young  man,  with  feeling.  "  I 
will  not  deny  the  motive  assigned ;  but  believe  me  there  are 
others,  whereof  you  would  not  disapprove." 

"  May  I  know  them  ?•" 

"  Needs  it  that  I  should  say  how  greatly  I  admire  thee  ;  how 
gladly  I  would  follow  in  thy  knightly  footsteps ;  how  any  peril 
would  be  welcome,  if  partaken  with  thee  V 

Sir  Christopher  turned  away.  "  I  did  not  think,"  he  said  to 
himself,  "  his  affection  was  so  great." 

"  Master  Arundel,"  he  replied,  walking  back,  "  I  do  prize 
thy  friendship  more  than  precious  jewels  ;  but  I  were  untrue  to 
that  love,  should  I  expose  thee  to  danger.  For  myself,  I  were  a 
recreant,  and  no  knight,  could  I,  because  of  danger,  refuse  to 
obey  a  call  to  benefit  my  fellow  men  ;  but,  for  thee,  it  is  a 
reckless  and  unneeded  temptation  of  peril.  Deem  me  not  un 
kind,  but  think  it  is  my  love  and  anxiety  that  speak  in  your 
behalf." 

"  It  is  the  first  request  I  have  made  to  thee,"  said  Arundel, 
"  and,  if  refused,  it  shall  be  the  last.  I  shall  be  compelled  to  be 
lieve  you  consider  me  unworthy  of  your  friendship,  too  effemi 
nate  to  bear  a  walk  of  a  few  days  in  the  forest,  and  unreliable 
in  the  hour  of  trial." 

The  voice  of  the  young  man  trembled,  and  his  whole  manner 
betrayed  his  wounded  feelings. 

"  Hear  me,  my  young  friend,"  urged  the  Knight ;  "  hast  thou 
well  weighed  the  terrors  thou  would' st  seek  I  It  is  not  merely 

death  thou  dost  defy  ;  but,  holy  Ma ,  holy  angels,  what  a 

death !  Canst  thou  endure  to  have  thy  tender  flesh  pierced  with 
splintered  sticks  ;  thine  eyes  torn  from  the  sockets ;  the  flames 
greedily  dashing  over  thy  head,  and  licking  up,  as  with  the 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  247 

forked  tongues  of  serpents,  thy  blood,  hissing  as  it  drops  upon 
the  glowing  brands  ?  And  this  for  the  poor  satisfaction  of  being 
with  me ;  for  thou  canst  not  afford  protection,  should  the  Indians 
attempt  outrage.  Alas !  how  bitterly  would  the  sorrow  of  my 
own  fate  be  enhanced  by  the  consciousness  of  thine !" 

"  I  have  considered  all  these  things,  and  they  move  me  not.  I 
admit  the  possibilities  of  the  painting,  but  no  more.  The  con 
duct  of  the  Taranteens  proves  how  high  stands  with  them  the 
point  of  honor  and  the  sacred  estimate  wherein  they  hold  an  em 
bassy  ;  else  never  would  they  have  ventured  upon  one  like  the 
second,  after  the  unhappy  termination  of  the  first.  I  partake 
not  of  thy  fears." 

"  Then,  if  not  with  the  unthinking  heat  of  youth,  but  with 
thoughtful  deliberation,  thou  hast  well  weighed  the  matter,  I  will 
not  deny  thee,  and  thou  shalt  visit  with  me  these  savages,  if 
Providence  spares  our  lives  to  reach  them.  But  I  start  this 
day,  within  a  few  hours ;  the  time  is  short ;  thou  canst  not  be 
ready." 

"I  am  ready.  I  came  prepared,  anticipating  all  things  save 
thine  objections." 

"  Enter,  then,  my  poor  house,  my  dear  young  friend,  and  re 
fresh  thyself,"  said  Sir  Christopher,  leading  the  way. 

The  persistency  of  Arundel  having  thus  wrung  a  consent  from 
the  Knight,  the  subject  was  not  again  referred  to  by  either  of 
them ;  but  both  considering  the  matter  settled,  addressed  them 
selves  to  the  preparations  remaining  to  be  made.  A  small  quan 
tity  of  dried  deer's  flesh,  and  corn  parched  and  pounded,  was 
packed  up,  sufficient,  as  was  supposed,  to  supply  the  wants  of  the 
travellers,  should  they  be  at  any  time  unfortunate  in  procuring 
game,  upon  which  their  chief  reliance  rested.  The  guns  were 
carefully  cleaned,  the  locks  seen  to  be  in  order,  and  store  of  bul 
lets  and  powder  was  provided.  These  preparations  being  com 
pleted,  refreshed  with  the  noonday  meal,  Sir  Christopher  called 


248  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  ME  LICE. 

on  Arundel  to  follow  him.  An  Indian  was  to  go  with  them  as 
far  as  it  was  judged  safe  for  him  to  proceed  into  an  enemy's 
country.  The  journey  it  was  calculated  would  require  a  week 
to  accomplish  to  the  principal  village  of  the  Taranteens  ;  so  that, 
allowing  an  equal  length  of  time  for  coming  back,  and  the  ne 
cessary  delay  among  the  Indians,  a  period  of  at  least  three  weeks 
might  be  expected  to  elapse  before  their  return.  The  two  white 
men,  then,  habited  in  closely-fitting  hunting  garments,  made  of 
dressed  deer-skin,  as  pliable  when  dry  as  silk,  their  guns  slung 
over  their  shoulders,  followed  the  Indian,  dressed  in  native  cos 
tume,  with  bow  and  quiver,  and  carrying  the  provisions,  and 
commenced  their  journey. 

The  first  two  days  were  unmarked  by  any  incident.  Their 
course  lay  over  the  hills  and  through  the  valleys  of  the  pleasant 
State  of  Massachusetts,  now  blooming  under  the  hand  of  culture, 
ornamented  with  cities  and  villages,  and  supplying  the  world  with 
the  products  of  her  joyful  and  free  industry ;  then,  an  intermi 
nable  forest,  roved  by  fierce  animals,  and  by  red  men  scarcely  less 
savage,  divided  into  tribes  sparsely  scattered,  living  in  mutual 
distrust,  incapable  of  labor,  supporting  themselves  by  the  uncer 
tain  issues  of  the  chase,  already  daunted  by  the  whites,  and  per 
haps  dimly  descrying  the  fate  that  awaited  them. 

Crevecoeur,  in  the  description  of  his  journey  in  Upper  Penn 
sylvania,  tells  us  how  accurately  the  native  sagacity  of  the 
wiser  Indians  could  discriminate  between  their  own  characteris 
tics  and  those  of  the  white  strangers,  and  foresee  the  conse 
quences  that  must  follow. 

"  Seest  thou,"  said  one  of  them,  "  that  the  whites  subsist  on 
grain,  while  we  depend  on  flesh ;  that  the  flesh  requires  more 
than  thirty  moons  to  mature,  and  is  often  scarce  ;  that  each  of 
those  wonderful  grains  which  they  deposit  in  the  ground  gives 
back  more  than  a  hundredfold  in  return  ;  that  the  meat  whereon 
we  subsist  has  four  legs  to  run  away,  while  we  have  only  two  to 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  249 

catch  it ;  and  that  the  seeds  planted  by  the  strangers  remain  and  in 
crease,  and  never  run  away  ?  That  is  the  reason  why  they  have 
so  many  children,  and  live  longer  than  we  do.  I  say  unto  each  one 
of  you  who  will  listen,  that,  before  the  cedars  of  our  village  shall 
die  of  age,  and  the  maple-trees  of  the  valley  cease  to  yield  sugar, 
that  the  race  of  the  sowers  of  little  seeds  will  have  exterminated 
the  race  of  the  flesh-eaters,  provided  our  hunters  do  not  also  re 
solve  to  sow." 

Through  the  vast  solitude,  impressive  by  its  silence  and  its 
loneliness,  guiding  their  course  by  day  by  the  position  of  the 
sun  and  the  mosses  on  the  trunks  of  the  trees,  and  at  night  by 
the  stars,  the  three  men  pursued  their  way*  On  the  afternoon  of 
the  third  day,  the  Knight,  after  a  conversation  with  their  guide, 
came  to  the  conclusion  that  it  was  better  the  Aberginian  should 
return,  as  they  had  now  approached  too  nearly  to  the  haunts  of 
the  Taranteens  to  suppose  that  they  should  long  remain  undis 
covered.  Accordingly,  the  Indian  took  his  departure,  leaving 
to  the  white  men  all  the  dangers  of  a  further  advance,  and  to 
find  their  way  as  best  they  might. 

11 


CHAPTER  XIX- 

"  Mery  it  was  in  the  grene  forest, 

Amonge  the  leves  grene  ; 
Whereas  men  hunt  east  and  west. 
Wyth  bowes  and  arrowes  kene." 

BALLAD  OF  ADAM  BELL,  "  Clym  of  the  Clough,  and  William  of  Cloudesl-t^- 

As  the  Knight,  with  confident  steps,  led  the  way,  Arundel  exr 
pressed  surprise  at  the  skill  which  he  displayed. 

"  You  forget  that  I  may  be  said  to  be  half  an  Indian  myselt, 
said  Sir  Christopher,  "  and  am  therefore  entitled  to  a  knowledge 
of  the  woods.     I  know  not  how  many  times  I  have  accompanied 
the  natives  in  their  distant  hunting  expeditions,  and  it  would  be 
strange  if  the  experience  were  thrown  away." 

"  But  surely  you  could  never  have  penetrated  so  far  in  the  di 
rection  of  this  fierce  tribe  ?" 

"  Farther,  my  young  friend.  I  have  wandered  more  than  a 
week's  journey  to  every  quarter  of  the  compass  from  my  lodge ; 
and  it  is  the  knowledge  of  the  country  thus  derived,  and  inti 
macy  with  Indian  character,  that  inspire  me  with  resolution  in 
our  enterprise.  It  might  be  considered  a  perilous  accomplish 
ment,"  he  added,  with  a  smile,  "  since  it  recommended  me  to  the 
consideration  of  the  Council,  to  whom,  moreover,  the  life  of  one 
not  of  the  congregation  is  of  less  value." 

The  Knight  had  never  before  shown  a  disposition  to  be  so  com 
municative.  Perhaps  the  isolation  of  the  two  from  the  world, 


252  THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE* 

and  the  devotion  which  Arundel  had  manifested,  heightened  his 
feeling  of  regard,  and  drew  out  his  confidence.  The  young  man's 
interest  in  the  conversation  increased,  and  he  said  : 

"  Surely,  you  would  not  impute  to  the  Governor,  or  to  a 
majority  of  his  counsellors,  a  design  to  expose  you  to  probable 
destruction.  Unutterable  baseness  were  therein." 

"  I  said  not  so.  I  pray  thee,  Master  Arundel,  to  attach  no 
such  construction  to  my  words  ;  you  would  thereby  do  foul 
wrong  to  my  thoughts.  Nay,  I  thank  the  Governor  for  honoring 
me  with  the  commission,  and  doubt  not  that  he  acted  only  in 
obedience  to  a  higher  prompting  than  his  own.  I  did  but  point 
to  a  feeling  which  thine  enlightenment  must  lament  as  much  as 
mine,  and  which  contracts  Christian  love  into  very  narrow  and 
erroneous  boundaries.  Dost  thou  understand  me?" 

"  I  think  I  do.  You  refer  to  the  jealous  retainer  of  power  in 
the  hands  of  their  Church." 

"  Of  their  Church,  so  called.  Here  are  we,  for  example  :  we 
may  desire,  with  that  natural  longing  whereby  men  are  some 
times  animated,  to  enter  into  closer  relations,  and  to  bind  our 
selves  by  more  intimate  ties  with  those  around  us,  (oftentimes,  I 
fear  me,  for  purposes  of  worldly  advancement,  as  well  as  encour 
agement  in  holy  living) ;  and,  lo !  a  very  slight  difference  of 
opinion — a  sublety  whereon  a  casuist  shall  batter  his  brains  for 
days  in  vain — shall  build  up  a  wall  of  exclusion,  especially  if 
there  be  some  within  the  enchanted  circle  who  are  jealous  of  our 
influence  and  distrust  their  own." 

"  I  doubt  not  you  are  right.  My  own  observation  partly  con 
firms  these  views,  though  I  have  been  too  short  a  time  in  the 
colony  to  form  an  undistrusted  opinion.  My  youth  and  inexpe 
rience  admonish  me  to  express  myself  doubtfully ;  but  I  think 
myself  safe  in  agreeing  with  you,  that  this  is  scarcely  the  best  way 
to  establish  that  universal  Church  to  which  the  ambition  of  the 
Puritans  aspires." 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  •  MELIOB.  253 

"  Have  a  care,  Master  Arundel,"  said  the  Knight,  laughing, 
and  his  laugh  rang  out  joyously  through  the  forest,  as  if  he  were 
glad  to'  escape  from  restraint,  and  in  strong  contrast  with  the 
caution  which  he  recommended,  "  lest  thy  treason  be  carried  by 
some  bird  to  the  enthusiatic  Endicott,  or  the  stern  Dudley,  and 
thou  be  made  to  atone  for  thy  lese  majeste." 

"  I  bear  them  no  ill  will,  and  they  know  it.  I  am  but  a  stranger 
among  them,  seeking  at  their  hands  a  jewel  most  unjustly  de 
tained,  and  which,  if  given  up,  will  hardly  endanger  the  common 
weal.  But,  Sir  Christopher,  explain  your  sentiments  more  per 
fectly  on  the  point  whither  our  conversation  converged." 

"  Master  Arundel,  I  am  a  soldier,  and  no  casuist,  and,  there 
fore,  hardly  so  well  prepared  to  answer  as  good  Mr.  Eliot,  or 
grave  Mr.  Wilson ;  yet  do  thoughts  on  such  subjects  sometimes 
puzzle  the  brains  of  a  soldier  in  a  steel  helmet,  as  well  as  those 
of  a  teacher  in  a  Geneva  cap ;  and,  sworn  brothers  as  we  are, 
proving  our  affection  by  a  voluntary  community  of  danger,  I  will 
not  hesitate  to  avow  my  secret  reflections,  knowing  that  they  are 
safe  in  thy  keeping.  All  Christians  must  acknowledge  Holy 
Scripture,  when  properly  understood,  as  the  imperative  rule  of 
faith,  without  a  belief  of  which  there  can  be  no  salvation.  Now,  in 
Scripture  I  do  find  the  Church  likened  unto  a  net  let  down  into 
the  sea,  and  when  drawn  up  containing  within  itself  a  diversity  of 
fishes.  This  similitude  teaches  me  that  the  Blessed  Founder  of 
our  religion  did  contemplate  variety,  and  not  that  strict  and  tame 
uniformity  which  would  compel  every  curve  into  a  straight  line, 
and  make  the  Church  more  like  a  platoon  of  point  device  Spanish 
soldiers  than  reasoning  men  variously  organized." 

"  I  have  heard  the  text  differently  explained,  to  wit :  that  the 
Church  is  thereby  intended  to  be  represented  as  a  receptacle  of  all 
men,  without  distinction  of  Jew  or  Gentile — of  color,  or  of  what 
ever  separates  man  from  man." 

"  They  who  interpret  it  thus,  do  limit  the  Word  of  God,  and 


254  THE     KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

make  vain  the  text  itself.  For,  was  it  not  designed  that  all 
should  be  brought  within  one  fold,  that  there  might  be  one  shep 
herd  ?  Now,  how  may  this  be  done,  if  respect  be  not  had  to  the 
prepossessions  and  prejudices  of  mankind  ?  See  the  infinite  differ 
ences  that  prevail  all  through  the  world.  These  it  is  the  sacred 
prerogative  of  the  Church  to  guide  and  control — not  violently 
tearing  them  up  by  the  roots,  but  making  them  subservient  to  her 
advancement." 

"  That,  it  seems  to  me,  were  little  better  than  encouraging 
heathenism  under  the  forms  of  Christianity." 

"  Nay,  it  is  more  like  the  manreuvre  of  a  skilful  helmsman, 
who,  when  a  flaw  that  may  not  be  resisted  strikes  the  sails  of 
his  ship,  doth  not  luff,  and  thereby  increase  the  power  of  his 
enemy,  and  risk  destruction,  but,  by  a  gentle  turn  of  the  rudder, 
glides  by  the  danger,  making  its  very  violence  facilitate  his  ad 
vance  ;  or  it  may  be  compared  to  the  progress  of  a  wise  tra 
veller,  who,  when  he  encounters  a  steep  hill,  doth  not  always 
press  straight  forward,  but,  influenced  by  its  shape,  sometimes 
turns  aside  and  encircles  its  base,  thereby  diminishing  the  labor 
and  not  increasing  the  distance." 

"  It  doth  look  to  me,"  said  Arundel,  "  more  like  the  crooked 
track  of  the  serpent,  which  cannot  advance  to  its  object  without 
twisting  its  body  into  contortions." 

"  And  can  anything  be  more  graceful  than  its  lovely  curves  ? 
Doth  not  Scripture  in  some  manner  commend  the  sagacious  rep 
tile,  holding  him  up  to  us  as  an  example,  and  bidding  us  be  wise 
even  as  serpents'?  The  children  of  Israel,  moreover,  when  in 
the  wilderness,  were  cured  of  their  wounds  by  merely  looking  at 
the  brazen  serpent,  thereby  typifying  the  value  of  wisdom,  whereof 
the  snake  is  an  emblem." 

"  You  are  more  skilled  in  dialectic  than  I,"  said  Arundelj 
laughing,  "  and  were  I  to  hear  you  with  shut  eyes,  I  should  think 
a  monk's  cowl  would  fit  your  head  better  than  a  morion." 


THE  KNIGHT  OP  THE  GOLDEtf  MELICE.          ?55 

Sir  Christopher  stole  a  sharp,  quick  glance  at  his  companion 
at  these  words,  but  he  could  notice  nothing  in  the  youth's  hand 
some  features  save  the  light-heartedness  of  a  happy  spirit.  He 
seemed  to  think  it  necessary,  however,  to  explain  more  perfectly 
the  meaning  of  what  he  had  been  saying. 

"  Harbor  not  the  thought,"  he  continued,  "  that  I,  in  any  wise, 
approve  the  damnable  doctrines  which,  by  many  zealous  Protes 
tants,  are  ascribed  to  the  Catholic  Church,  viz  :  that  religion 
consists  in  the  mumbling  of  unmeaning  forms  and  performance 
of  unnecessary  ceremonies  ;  in  the  gaudy  decoration  of  temples 
with  pictures  and  statues,  which  some  consider  an  incitement  to 
devotion ;  in  an  entire  abandonment  of  the  soul  of  the  layman  to 
the  care  of  the  priest,  as  if  the  laic  himself  had  no  part  in  work 
ing  out  his  salvation.  As  a  good  Protestant,  I  am  bound  to  con 
demn  and  anathematize  these  errors ;  but,  more  distinctly,  I  hold 
that  our  Puritan  brethren  (to  come  back  to  the  point  of  depart 
ure)  are  over-strict  and  unwise  in  applying  a  Procrustean  measure 
in  their  discipline,  and,  for  that  reason,  if  for  no  other,  they 
cannot  be  a  Church  universal.  Too  stiff,  unbending  and  unfor 
giving  are  they  to  the  weaknesses  of  human  nature,  and,  there 
fore,  (without  more,)  I  predict  utter  failure  to  every  attempt  of 
theirs  to  make  the  natives  like  themselves.  They  do  forget  that 
milk,  not  flesh  meat,  is  the  food  for  babes." 

"  Hold  you  these  Puritans  to  be,  in  any  true  sense,  a  Church 
at  all?"  inquired  Arundel. 

Again  the  Knight  looked  sharply  at  the  other,  and  this  time 
he  burst  into  a  laugh,  wherein,  it  seemed  to  the  young  man,  a 
sneer  was  mingled  with  the  gaiety. 

"  That  were  a  dangerous  question,"  he  answered,  "  anywhere 
else  than  three  days'  journey  from  Winthrop,  and  to  ears  less  for 
giving  than  mine.  But  here  we  are,  debating,  as  thou  didst  intimate 
a  moment  ago,  more  like  two  pattering  monks  than  journeying 
like  merry  cavaliers.  For  my  part,  the  dissensions  of  Christ- 


256  THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN   MELICE. 

endom  weary  me,  and  I  prefer  to  leave  to  the  holy  men  vowed 
to  the  service  of  the  altar,  the  labor  of  unloosing  the  knots  of 
controversy,  rather  than  perplex  my  brains  with  them.  Come, 
Master  Arundel,  hast  never  a  song  wherewith  to  waken  the  echoes 
of  the  virgin  forest  and  shorten  the  toils  of  our  way  ?" 

"  I  esteem  not  myself  a  singer,  though  I  can  troll  a  stave  or 
two,"  replied  the  young  man.  "  But  I  fear  that  my  minstrelsy 
would  be  rude  and  uncouth  to  the  cultivated  ears  of  one  who,  like 
you,  Sir  Christopher,  hath  listened  to  the  lays  of  many  lands, 
and  so,  refined  and  perfected  his  taste." 

"  It  is  true,"  said  the  Knight,  "  that  I  have  heard  the  songs  of 
many  countries,  warbled  by  beauty  to  the  accompanying  sounds 
of  divers  instruments,  from  Spain  to  Persia,  from  the  Andalusian 
guitar  to  the  Turkish  lute.  But  fear  me  not.  I  am  no  super 
cilious  critic.  Thy  modesty  hides  merit.  I  will  be  bound  now 
that  thy  performance  will  exceed  thy  promise." 

"  But  is  there  no  danger  of  attracting  wandering  savages,  and 
so  being  taken  prisoners,  or  shot  with  their  arrows  ?" 

"The  danger  of  being  treated  as  enemies  is  less,  for  what  In 
dian  would  suspect  such  of  going  singing  through  the  woods  ?" 

"  Then  here  is  my  song,"  said  Arundel,  "  but  I  shall  look  for 
a  like  complaisance  on  thy  part." 

"  Who  loves  the  greenwood  cool  and  sweet, 

O  !  let  him  come  with  me  ! 
No  harsher  sound  his  ears  shall  greet, 

Than  songs  of  birds  so  free  ; 
No  sight  less  fair  his  eyes  shall  view, 

Than  trees,  and  ferns,  and  flowers- 
Sun,  stars,  the  branches  shimmering  through, 

To  light  the  flying  hours. 

Ambition  hither  cannot  come, 

Here  Pomp  is  out  of  place, 
And  fawning  Flattery  finds  no  home 

With  Simper  and  Grimace, 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.  257 

But  Nature,  in  her  artless  dress,  ' 

(A  greenwood  nymph  is  she,) 
With  eyes  so  wild  and-flowing  tress, 

And  bare  ungartered  knee. 

Then  come,  O,  come  !  O,  come  with  me  ! 

Forgot  be  toil  and  care  ; 
0  !  come  beneath  the  greenwood  tree, 

For  happiness  is  there. 
The  sun  shall  shine  with  tempered  ray, 

The  moon-beam  soft,  yet  bright ; 
O,  come  !  Joy  beckons  us  away, 

To  revel  in  delight!" 

"  Good !"  exclaimed  the  Knight.  "  Thy  voice  is  as  sweet  as 
a  sky-lark's,  and  runs  with  marvellous  cunning  through  the  har 
monious  changes  of  the  tune.  Why,  never  preface  thy  song  again 
with  an  apology,  or  I  shall  begin  to  doubt  thy  sincerity." 

"  Wild  woods  and  savage  life  have  not  tarnished  the  courtly 
polish  of  Sir  Christopher  Gardiner,"  said  Arundel.  "And  now 
for  my  guerdon,  though  in  truth  I  feel  shame  for  the  little  I  have 
been  able  to  do,  in  comparison  with  what  I  expect." 

(l  By  my  troth,  thou  art  a  master  in  the  science  of  delicate 
compliments.  There  was,  I  confess,  a  time  when,  with  youthful 
vanity,  I  did  esteem  myself  possessed  of  some  skill,  and  could 
step  along  the  gamut  with  any  Don  or  Signor  of  them  all;  but 
that  is  long  since,  and  I  fear  me  that  the  gutturals  of  Northern 
Germany  have  quite  driven  out  of  my  throat  the  liquids  and 
vowels  of  Italy.  However,  to  pleasure  me,  thou  hast  sung  with 
infinite  discretion  and  wonderful  sweetness,  a  most  delectable 
song ;  and  now  it  were  boorish  not  to  attempt  at  least  to  repay 
thy  musical  favor." 

So  saying,  the  Knight  sung  in  a  manner  and  with  an  expres 
sion  that  proved  him  to  be  an  accomplished  musician,  and  in 

11* 


258      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

some  contrast  with  the  less  artful  style  of  Arundel,  the  following 


song: 


•'  On  golden  Guadalquiver's  banks 

Are  tinkling  gay  guitars, 
To  hail  with  song  and  smiling  thanks, 
The  soldier  from  the  wars. 

When  glowing  youth  and  beauty  met, 

Blush  at  each  other's  glance, 
And,  bounding  to  the  Castanet, 

Entwine  th'impassioned  dance. 

And  purple  Xeres  sends  her  wine, 

To  laugh  in  those  dark  eyes, 
Whose  flashing  orbs  the  stars  outshine, 

Of  Andalusia's  skies. 

Red  lips  repeat  the  hero's  name, 

White  hands  are  scattering  flowers  ; 

Honor  be  his  and  deathless  fame, 
And  gratitude  be  ours ! 

Delightful  land  of  orange  blooms, 

Of  chivalry  and  song, 
Whose  memory  the  past  perfumes — 

0  !  how  for  thee  I  long  ! 

Where'er  may  stray  my  wandering  feet, 

1  never  will  forget, 

Or  Guadalquiver's  maidens  sweet, 
Or  merry  castanet. 

When  sun,  and  moon,  and  stars  turn  pale, 

On  Nature's  funeral  pyre, 
O'er  all  Spain's  glory  shall  prevail, 

An  eagle  soaring  higher." 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELIUE.  259 

"You  have  well  profited  by  your  opportunities,  Sir  Christopher," 
said  Arundel,  at  its  conclusion.  "  By  mine  honor,  such  sweet 
and  artful  notes  never  waked  the  echoes  of  a  mighty  forest.  I 
seemed  to  mingle  in  the  graceful  fandango,  and  to  taste  the  ex 
hilarating  Xeres  in  your  song," 

"  Ah  !"  replied  the  Knight,  with  a  half  sigh.  "  It  is  only  a 
reminiscence  of  youthful  follies.  But  now  it  is  thy  turn  again. 
I  warrant  me  there  is  store  of  ravishing  melodies  in  the  treasury 
whence  thou  didst  take  thine." 

"I  dare  not,"  said  the  young  man  modestly,  "sing  after  thee. 
My  poor  notes  would  sound  like  those  of  the  croaking  raven,  in 
comparison  with  the  warblings  of  the  yellow  minstrel  of  the  Ca 
naries." 

"  Out  with  thee,  hyperbolical  flatterer!  Believe  me — I  set  a 
higher  value  on  thy  nature  than  on  my  art.  Come,  pipe  up  once 
more,  and  I  will,  meanwhile,  try  to  recall  another  ditty." 

"  If  such  is  to  be  my  reward,  I  will  not  refuse,  although  I  do 
thereby  only  expose  my  own  incapacity.  Here  is  a  serenade : 

"  I  stand  beneath  thy  window,  love, 

To  tell  my  pleasing  pain  : 
O,  flowers  below,  and  stars  above, 

Bear  to  her  heart  my  strain  ! 
Say  that  the  charms  of  earth  and  sky 
Are  waiting  for  her  company, 
And  all  sweet  things  my  fair  invite, 
To  rise  and  perfect  make  the  night. 

Yet,  no  !  I  would  no  earthly  sound 

Might  mar  that  tranquil  sleep, 
O'er  which  the  angels,  standing  round, 

Admiring  vigil  keep. 

With  these  bright  guards  I  choose  to  share 
The  watching  of  my  jewel  rare  ; 
For  though  their  love  may  be  divine, 
I  know  it  cannot  equal  mine. 


260  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

I  see  her  as  she  chastely  lies 

Upon  the  linen  white  ; 
Was  ne'er  to  man's  or  angel's  eyes 

So  beautiful  a  sight ! 
O,  mark  her  bosom's  fall  and  swell, 
(Profane  it  were  of  more  to  tell,) 
While  hover  round  her  rose-leaf  mouth, 
Sweets  that  excel  the  Arabian  South. 

Listen  !  she  murmurs  in  her  dreams, 

And  music  puts  to  shame : 
O,  can  it  be  1  she  breathes,  meseems, 

My  too — too  happy  name  ! 
O  cease,  bliss-crowded  heart,  to  beat 
So  fast,  lest  like  some  India  fleet 
Surcharged  with  spices,  thou  outright 
Founder,  o'erfreighted  with  delight !" 

"  Excellent,"  exclaimed  the  Knight.  Never  talk  to  me  of  the 
wonderful  little  birds  of  the  Canaries,  unless  to  call  thyself  one. 
I  fancy  thy  verses  a  tribute  to  the  celestial  attractions  of  Mistress 
Eveline  Dunning." 

"  And  now  let  me  hear  thee,"  said  Arundel. 

"  I  did  match  my  first  lay,"  said  Sir  Christopher,  "  to  thy 
youthful  blood.  Now  will  I  give  thee  one  more  befitting  my 
years  and  gravity,"  and  adapting  the  words  to  a  wild  foreign 
air,  the  Knight  sent  his  rich  full  voice  ringing  through  the  wood. 

"  Who,  on  Glory's  pinion, 

Shall  mount  the  upper  air, 
And  write  his  name  with  sunbeams 
Sublimely  there  1 

Blare  of  trumpets  shivering 
Above  the  reeling  fight, 
Proves  the  inhuman  challenge — 

The  warrior's  right? 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.     261 

Son  of  thoughtful  Science, 

Unthinking  of  renown, 
Is  thine  the  name  to  thunder 

The  ages  down  1" 

"  Hist !"  he  said,  interrupting  the  song.  "  What  is  it  I  see  glid 
ing  in  yonder  thicket  ?  Stand  fast,  Master  Arundel,  while  I  go 
forward  to  reconnoitre." 

The  young  man  would  have  accompanied  him,  but  this  Sir 
Christopher  imperatively  forbade.  "  Thou  art  under  my  lead  and 
protection,"  he  said,  "  and  foul  shame  were  it,  should  I  expose 
thee  to  a  danger  which  I  should  face  myself  alone  ;"  and  in  spite 
of  his  urgency,  Arundel  was  obliged  to  remain  behind. 

The  Knight  was  gone,  perhaps,  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  and  Arun 
del  began  to  be  anxious  at  the  length  of  his  absence,  and  had 
stepped  forward  a  few  rods  to  seek  him,  when  he  made  his  ap 
pearance. 

"  If  it  were  a  wild  beast,  or  anything  that  could  harm  us,"  he 
cried,  as  he  approached,  "  it  has  glided  off  into  the  bushes." 

"  Then  shall  I  entreat  the  continuance  of  thy  song.  I  would 
like  to  hear  resolved  the  question  which  it  pleases  the  poet  to 
ask." 

"  I  care  not  to  sing  more  now,"  returned  the  Knight.  "  My 
voice,  I  perceive,  begins  to  roughen,  and  brawls  along  more  like 
a  shallow  brook,  over  pebbles,  than  the  flow  of  a  deep,  equable 
stream.  It  were  to  shame  the  brave  words." 

This  determination  Arundel  was  unable  to  alter,  and  he  could 
not  avoid  ascribing  it  quite  as  much  to  a  change  of  opinion  in  his 
companion,  respecting  the  prudence  of  singing  in  that  wild  region, 
as  to  any  assumed  roughness  of  voice.  Thinking  thus,  he  un- 
slung  his  gun,  and  examined  carefully  the  priming,  holding  him 
self  in  readiness  for  any  emergency.  He  noticed,  however,  to 
his  surprise,  that  no  such  precautions  were  adopted  by  Sir  Chris 
topher,  who,  though  in  silence,  walked  with  as  fearless  a  step  aa 
ever,  and  allowed  his  piece  to  remain  upon  his  back. 


262  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

The  shades  of  evening  were  now  beginning  to  wrap  objects  in 
obscurity,  and  it  became  necessary  to  look  out  for  a  place  of  rest. 
In  finding  one  fitted  for  the  purpose,  the  Knight  betrayed  no  em 
barrassment. 

"  There  should  be,"  he  said,  "  a  small  cave  in  the  neighbor 
hood,  wherein  we  may  be  sheltered.  I  will  lead  thee  thither  in 
a  short  time." 

Accordingly,  they  descended  the  side  of  a  pretty  steep  declivity, 
and,  at  the  bottom,  forming  a  sort  of  miniature  valley,  found  the 
object  of  their  search.  It  was  certainly  a  very  small  cave,  if,  in 
deed,  the  recess,  which  was  not  twelve  feet  deep,  made  by  the 
jutting  out  of  some  huge  rocks  from  the  side  of  the  hill,  deserved 
the  name.  A  brook  came  dashing  round  before  the  cave,  sepa 
rating  it  as  it  were  from  its  surroundings,  and  deepening  its  pri 
vacy  ;  and  over  the  entrance  hung  immense  hemlock  branches, 
sweeping  with  their  evergreen  plumes  the  rocky  roof,  and  almost 
hiding  the  aperture.  It  seemed  impossible  to  have  selected  a 
place  better  adapted  for  concealment. 

"  We  need  not  fear,"  said  the  Knight,  "  to  make  a  fire  in  this 
secluded  spot.  It  will  serve  to  keep  off  wild  animals,  and  as  for 
Indians,  they  can  hardly  be  expected  to  stumble  on  us." 

Arundel,  as  being  only  a  follower,  and  inferior  in  experience 
of  wood-craft  to  his  elder  friend,  made  no  objection,  but  ad 
dressed  himself  to  prepare  for  passing  the  night.  The  two,  with 
their  hunting  hatchets,  cut  from  the  moist  land,  watered  by  the 
brook,  a  quantity  of  hemlock  boughs,  wherewith  to  compose  their 
beds,  making  couches  more  comfortable,  and  even  luxurious  to  a 
tired  wanderer,  than  one  would  suppose  who  had  never  tried 
them.  Next,  they  kindled  a  fire,  whereupon  supper  was  prepared — 
some  small  game,  consisting  of  partridges  and  rabbits  which  they 
had  shot  in  the  course  of  the  day.  These,  together  with  the 
parched  corn  they  brought  from  home,  not  without  a  draught  or 
two  of  aqua  vitae  tempered  by  the  pure  stream,  satisfied  the  cravr 
ings  of  appetite. 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  263 

"  And  now,  Master  Arundel,"  said  the  Knight,  after  the  re 
past  was  finished,  during  which  he  had  looked  with  admiring 
eyes  on  the  achievements  of  his  companion,  "  tell  me,  didst  ever, 
at  princely  banquet  in  courtly  hall,  enjoy  with  keener  zest  the 
artificial  dishes  of  cunning  cooks,  designed  to  tickle  the  delicate 
and  difficultly  pleased  palate  ?" 

"  Never,"  answered  Arundel.  "  Knew  the  epicures  of  Europe 
the  efficacy  of  a  forest  tramp,  we  should  meet  them  oftener  than 
Indians  in  the  woods." 

"  Thus  deals  boon  nature  with  her  children,"  said  Sir  Christo 
pher.  "  Out  of  the  richness  of  her  abundance  doth  she  prodi 
gally  supply  what  man,  with  all  his  devices,  cannot  obtain.  The 
scent  of  the  woodland,  the  winged  minstrelsy,  the  murmur  of  the 
brook,  and  tripping  of  the  deer,  say  I,  before  the  inventions  and 
appliances  of  dissatisfied  man,  whereby  he  vainly  tries  to  procure 
to  himself  pleasures  which  he  might  have  for  the  asking.  But 
how  fares  it  otherwise  with  thee  ?  Art  not  tired  ?  With  me, 
who  am  an  old  campaigner,  our  tramp  should  be  a  trifle,  and  yet 
I  confess  my  limbs  are  not  as  supple  as  in  the  morning.  Thou 
wert  excusable  shouldest  thou  feel  it  more." 

"  I  feel  no  fatigue  now,"  said  Arundel,  "  though  an  hour  ago 
I  might  have  confessed  it.  But  what  is  that "?"  he  exclaimed, 
grasping  his  gun.  "  Methought  I  saw  two  eyes  peering  from  the 
thicket.  Shall  I  fire  ?"  he  added,  bringing  the  piece  to  his 
shoulder. 

"  For  thy  life,  no !"  interposed  the  Knight  quickly,  striking  up 
the  muzzle  o*  the  gun.  "  That  were  to  inform  any  wandering 
savages  of  our  retreat." 

"  I  will  then  explore  the  bush  to  find  out  what  it  is,  whom  cu 
riosity  has  attracted — whether  beast  or  Indian." 

"  It  were  well  not  to  do  so,"  said  the  Knight.  "  It  would 
only  be  unnecessary  exposure  ;  and  an  enem}v  if  it  be  one,  would 
have  every  possible  advantage  in  waiting  for  thee — he  knowing 
thy  position,  and  thou  not  his." 


264  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLUEN  MELICE. 

"  Nevertheless,  it  were  a  great  satisfaction  could  I  discern  the 
creature.  Perhaps  I  may  bring  back  a  buck  for  breakfast.  Thou 
art  acquainted  with  the  stupid  habit  of  deer  to  gaze  on  fire.  It 
may  be  one  of  them." 

"  For  all  that,  I  counsel  thee  to  remain.  A  prudent  soldier  ex 
poses  not  himself  to  danger  without  cause.'* 

"  By  Heaven !"  exclaimed  Arundel,  "  I  see  the  eyes  of  the  ani 
mal  again,  in  the  light  of  the  fire.  I  will  shoot,  come  what  will 
of  it ;"  and  before  the  Knight  could  interfere,  he  had  discharged 
his  piece  in  the  direction  of  the  object.  The  dark  woods  echoed 
to  the  report,  and  some  birds  disturbed  from  their  perches  began 
to  flutter  blindly  round,  but  no  other  sounds  were  heard,  and 
presently  silence,  as  profound  as  before,  brooded  over  the  forest. 
"  Thou  hast  been  guilty  of  a  sad  imprudence,  Master  Arun 
del,"  said  the  Knight,  "  and  I  hope  no  evil  consequences  may  re 
sult  therefrom.  What  art  thou  about  now  ?" 

But  the  young  man,  who,  from  the  instant  he  had  discharged 
his  piece,  had  been  busy  reloading  it,  and  whose  preparations 
were  now  completed,  paid  no  attention  to  the  question;  butt 
excited  by  what  he  had  seen,  rushed  out  of  the  cave  into  the 
open  air. 

"  Santa  Madre  de  Dios  /"  exclaimed  the  Knight.  "  I  hope  nothing 
evil  will  befall  him.  Were  it  better  now  to  follow  or  to 
remain  T' 

While  Sir  Christopher  was  deliberating,  Arundel,  holding  his 
piece  in  readiness,  cautiously  took  his  way  toward  the  thicket, 
whence  he  fancied  the  eyes  had  looked.  As  he  was  groping  along^ 
not  yet  recovered  from  the  blinding  effect  of  the  fire-glare,  he 
suddenly  felt  his  gun  seized,  and  several  strong  arms  thrown 
round  his  person.  He  cried  out  for  assistance,  and  struggled,  but 
in  vain.  The  gun  was  torn  away,  a  hand  placed  over  his  mouth, 
and  a  tomahawk  brandished  at  him,  as  if  to  intimate  his  doom, 
should  he  continue  his  outcries.  In  this  state  of  things  nothing 


TfiE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.  265 

was  left  but  to  yield  hinfself  to  his  captors,  and,  resigning  him 
self  to  his  fate,  he  waited  for  what  should  follow ;  nor  was  he 
kept  long  in  suspense,  for  presently  an  Indian  came  gliding  up  to 
the  group  in  whose  midst  he  stood,  and  spoke  a  few  words, 
whereupon  he  was  led  to  the  cave,  and  directed  by  signs  to  enter 
it.  Here  he  found  Sir  Christopher  lying  quietly  on  the  ground, 
without  apparently  having  received  any  injury,  and  his  piece  in 
the  possession  of  some  Indians  by  whom  he  was  surrounded. 
Arundel  was  permitted  to  sit  down  by  his  side,  admiring,  as  he 
did  so,  the  wonderful  composure  of  the  Knight. 


- 


CHAPTER  XX. 

"  There  have  been  holy  men  who  hid  themselves 
Deep  in  the  woody  wilderness." 

BRYANT. 

ARTJNDEL  had  now  an  opportunity  to  look  round  and  observe 
the  state  of  things  Besides  the  Knight  and  himself,  there  were 
seven  or  eight  Indians  in  the  little  cavern,  armed  with  bows  and  ar 
rows  ;  and  he  remarked  with  pleasure  that  these  persons  were  not 
stained  with  war-paint,  indicating  that  they  were  on  no  hostile 
expedition,  but  engaged  in  hunting.  So  far  from  offering  violence, 
or  even  rudeness,  the  savages  treated  them  with  marked  deference, 
keeping  at  a  respectful  distance,  and  yielding  to  them  the  piles  of 
hemlock  branches  which  they  had  arranged  for  coaches.  Arun- 
del  listened  to  the  conversation  between  the  Knight  and  the  In 
dians  with  that  strained  attention  with  which  one  unacquainted 
with  a  language  will  sometimes  hang  upon  its  sounds,  as  if  by  a 
concentration  of  the  faculties  to  wring  a  sense  out  of  it ;  and  if 
he  was  unable  to  make  out  the  meaning  of  the  words,  he  at  least 
satisfied  himself,  both  from  "the  intonation  of  the  voices  and  ex 
pression  of  the  faces,  that  no  immediate  injury  was  designed.  To 
the  appealing  looks  which  Arundel  from  time  to  time  directed  to 
him,  the  Knight  at  length  replied : 

"  I  know  not,  Master  Arundel,  whether  we  should  consider 
ourselves  more  fortunate  or  the  contrary,  in  falling  into  the  hands 
of  these  copper-colqred  cavaliers.  We  are  their  prisoners,  and, 


268  THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

as  such,  bound  to  obey  their  motions ;  but  their  presence  will 
guard  us  from  attack,  and  in  that  way  be  a  shield  ;  and  their 
treatment  in  other  respects  will  shame,  I  doubt  not,  the  conduct 
of  more  civilized  men  in  like  circumstances." 

"  Know  you,"  inquired  Arundel,  "  the  name  of  their  tribe,  and 
their  intentions  towards  us  f 

"  They  are  Taranteens,  and,  as  far  as  I  can  learn,  mean  to  take 
us  to  one  of  their  villages.  It  was  fortunate  your  shot  took  not 
effect ;  for,  otherwise,  1  know  not  what  would  have  been  the 
consequence." 

"  I  confess  now  its  rashness ;  but  it  is  manifest  that  we  were 
tracked,  and,  in  any  event,  would  have  been  prisoners." 

"  Perhaps  not  prisoners.  Perhaps,  after  making  our  acquain 
tance,  they  would  have  offered  us  their  company  as  an  escort. 
As  it  is,  we  must  submit  to  close  watchfulness  on  our  journey, 
and,  afterwards,  take  what  fate  may  come.  I  counsel  thee  (and 
speak  as  one  knowing  the  habits  of  these  people)  to  betray  no 
distrust  or  apprehension.  We  must  show  that  we  rely  with  per 
fect  assurance  on  our  character  as  ambassadors,  not  only  for  im 
munity  from  danger,  but  for  courteous  treatment.  And  now,"  he 
added,  disposing  himself  to  rest,  "  we  had  better  court  that  sleep 
which  will  be  so  necessary  to  prepare  us  for  the  fatigues  of  to 
morrow." 

Arundel  followed  his  example,  and,  as  if  it  had  been  a  signal  for 
the  Indians,  they  all  left  the  cave,  with  the  exception  of  two,  who 
stretched  themselves  out  by  the  fire  at  the  mouth. 

It  was  long  after  it  had  fallen  upon  the  lids  of  Sir  Christopher, 
that  sleep  visited  the  eyes  of  Arundel ;  but  tired  nature  at  last 
yielded  to  the  solicitations  of  the  drowsy  influence,  and  he  forgot 
both  his  joys  and  his  sorrows. 

When  he  awoke,  the  daylight  was  streaming  into  his  retreat, 
and,  sitting  up  on  the  hemlock  boughs,  he  looked  around.  The 
couch  of  Sir  Christopher  was  deserted,  and  no  Indian  visible. 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.      269 

Wondering  what  had  become  of  them,  he  rose  and  walked  to  the 
entrance,  and  beheld  standing  on  the  margin  of  the  brook,  the 
Knight  in  conversation  with  the  savage,  who,  the  night  before, 
appeared  to  be  the  leader  of  the  party.  They  were  so  interested 
with  their  subject  as  not  to  notice  his  presence,  and  he  had  an 
opportunity  to  observe  their  bearing  to  one  another.  To  judge 
from  that,  the  Knight  looked  to  Arundel  more  like  a  conqueror 
than  a  captive,  and  rather  giving  than  receiving  orders.  The  at 
titude  of  Sir  Christopher  was  commanding,  and  he  engrossed  the 
principal  part  of  the  conversation.  From  the  frequency  with 
which  it  was  repeated,  Arundel,  as  he  fancied,  could  make  out 
one  word,  which  sounded  like  "  Mesandowit,"  but  its  meaning  he 
was  unable  to  divine.  He  stood  looking  at  them  until  the  Indian 
discovered  him,  who,  ejaculating  the  word  "  ahque,"  (beware,) 
the  Knight  turned  and  also  saw  him. 

"  Thy  appearance  dispenses  with  the  necessity  of  asking  how 
thou  hast  passed  the  night,  Master  Arundel,"  cried  Sir  Christo 
pher.  "  Well,  there  is  nothing  like  a  trust  in  Providence,  where 
to  I  commend  thee,  to  inspire  with  courage.  Courage  may,  in  a 
certain  sense,  be  said  to  be  piety." 

"  Truly,  Sir  Christopher,"  said  Arundel,  catching  confidence 
from  the  cheerful  tone  of  the  Knight,  "  I  begin  to  regard  thee  as  a 
sort  of  Providence,  for  wherever  you  move,  you  seem  to  exercise 
a  command.  Now  would  I  give  something  to  know  the  secret 
whereby  you  have  tamed  yon  savage," 

"  It  is  no  astonishing  mystery.  I  did  but  elucidate  to  him 
clearly  our  sacred  character  and  thy  mistake  in  firing." 

"  Is  he  content  with  the  explanation  1" 

"  He  seems  to  be.  The  natives  are  not  so  unreasonable  as  is 
sometimes  represented.  Difficulties  between  men  do  often  arise 
from  an  ignorance  of  each  others  intentions;  and  one  grand 
cause  of  contention  is,  doubtless,  an  inability  to  comprehend 
their  diverse  languages.  Now,  1  suffer  under  no  such  disability. 


270      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

I  can  impart  my  ideas,  and  receive  their  own  in  return,  and  thus 
is  language  a  bridge  of  reconciliation  betwixt  us.  Believe  me — a 
common  cord  vibrates  through  the  hearts  and  minds  of  all  men, 
and  skilful  words  are  the  fingers  wherewith  to  touch  it." 

"Thou  art  a  skilful  musician  in  more  than  one  sense,"  said 
Arundel,  as  he  turned  to  the  brook  to  wash  his  hands  and  face. 

No  very  strict,  certainly  not  obtrusive  surveillance,  was  exer 
cised  by  the  Taranteens  over  their  captives.  They  were  allowed 
to  move  about  where  they  pleased,  and  their  escort  began  to  as 
sume  the  appearance  of  a  guard  of  honor,  rather  than  a  band  of 
suspicious  enemies ;  nor  did  the  savages  seem  at  all  disposed  to 
hurry,  or  take  any  measures  to  prevent  a  surprise,  feeling,  pro 
bably,  a  consciousness  of  security  in  being  on  their  own  hunting 
grounds.  Their  breakfast,  of  which  the  two  white  men  partook 
with  them,  was  leisurely  prepared,  and  eaten  with  equal  delibera 
tion,  and  the  sun  was  high  when  they  resumed  their  journey. 
All  these  circumstances  were  noticed  by  Arundel,  and  tended  to 
increase  his  confidence.  However,  he  made  no  remark  respecting 
them. 

But  when,  soon  after  the  commencement  of  their  march,  their 
guns  were  returned,  he  could  not  forbear  from  uttering  his  sur 
prise. 

"  They  know  not  how  to  use  the  weapon,"  replied  Sir  Christo 
pher,  "  and  it  suits  them  not  to  carry  loads  not  their  own.  Be 
sides,  I  have  pledged  our  honors  that  the  pieces  shall  not  be  used 
against  them.  Methinks,  moreover,  were  we  inclined  to  play 
false,  it  were  fruitless,  in  view  of  their  superior  number." 

Nothing  of  importance  occurred  during  the  couple  of  days 
longer  their  journey  lasted,  and  before  it  was  completed,  both  the 
prisoners  lost  all  apprehension  of  violence.  They  were  even  per 
mitted  to  shoot  the  game  which  was  started,  and  the  Indians 
manifested  no  little  pleasure  when  the  shots  proved  successful. 
They  watched  closely  the  loading  of  the  pieces  and  priming,  and 


THE  KKIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.  271 

the  manner  in  which  the  lock  trigger  was  raised,  and  sometimes 
took  the  guns  into  their  own  hands,  and  brought  them  up  to  the 
shoulder,  as  they  had  seen  the  white  men  do,  as  if  desirous  to  be 
taught  their  use.  Something  also,  in  reference  to  the  subject, 
they  said  to  the  Knight,  but  he  shook  his  head,  and  showed  no 
disposition  to  instruct  them.  An  unlucky  experiment  made  with 
the  piece  of  Sir  Christopher,  by  one  of  the  Taranteens,  at  length 
put  an  end  to  their  importunities. 

The  Indian  took  the  gun,  after  he  had  seen  it  loaded  by  Sir 
Christopher,  and  imitating  his  actions,  discharged  it  at  a  bird  sit 
ting  on  a  bough,  at  no  great  distance. 

He  had  failed  to  remark  that  the  Knight  placed  the  piece 
firmly  against  his  shoulder  when  it  was  fired,  and  ignorant  of  the 
propriety  of  doing  so,  held  it  with  a  natural  feeling  of  timidity  at 
a  little  distance  from  his  body.  The  consequence  was,  that  the 
recoil  prostrated  the  savage  on  his  back,  and  the  gun  dropped 
from  his  hands,  while  the  fortunate  bird  seemed  to  deride  the 
unskilful  marksman,  and  to  challenge  him  to  another  trial,  by 
paying  no  other  heed  than  hopping  on  another  bough.  His  com 
panions  gathered  round  the  fallen  savage,  and  two  or  three  took 
hold  of  the  white  men,  as  if  to  prevent  escape ;  but  when  they  saw 
no  wound  upon  his  person,  nor  expression  of  pain  in  his  face,  (for 
the  pride  of  the  unfortunate  warrior  forbade  the  betrayal  of  what 
he  felt,)  their  words  of  sympathy  and  intentions  of  revenge  were 
converted  into  jeers  and  laughter.  As  for  the  unlucky  fellow 
himself,  on  rising  from  the  ground,  he  retreated  a 'little  way  from 
the  gun,  and  regarding  it  with  a  look,  wherein  awe  and  aversion 
were  combined,  took  care  not  to  approach  nigh  to  it  again. 

On  the  evening  of  the  seventh  day  after  their  departure,  they  ap 
proached  the  village  of  the  Taranteens.  The  whole  company 
halted  at  a  little  distance  from  it,  and  the  returning  Indians 
shouted  a  peculiar  cry,  after  which  they  proceeded  more  leisurely 
on  their  way.  The  yell  had  been  heard  and  understood,  for  soon 


272  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN    MELICE. 

Were  seen  advancing,  groups  of  men,  women,  and  children. 
These,  upon  joining  their  friends,  manifested  none  of  that  stolid 
indifference,  which  it  has  been  the  pleasure  of  certain  writers  to 
ascribe  to  the  natives,  forgetting  that  by  nature  the  same  feelings 
animate  the  hearts  of  all  men,  whatever  may  be  the  degree  of 
their  civilization,  or  the  color  of  their  skin.  On  the  contrary, 
there  were  smiling  faces  and  tones  of  welcome,  and  other  demon 
strations,  that  proved  the  existence  of  affection.  The  squaws 
and  children  looked  askance  at  the  strangers,  but  their  glances 
were  rather  timid  than  obtrusive,  and  augured  no  unfavorable 
prepossessions.  Accompanied  by  a  constantly  increasing  num 
ber,  our  friends  were  conducted  to  a  lodge  in  the  centre  of  the 
village,  which  they  were  told  they  would  occupy  during  their 
stay.  It  was  carefully  covered  with  bark,  and,  as  usual,  skins 
were  hanging  on  the  sides,  and  lying  on  the  ground  for  couches^ 
and  there  were  some  cooking  utensils,  made  of  clay,  on  one  sidei 
Such  were  all  the  articles  constituting  the  simple  menage  of  the 
child  of  nature,  and  completed  his  idea  of  necessary  furniture; 
Here  the  strangers  were  left  by  their  guides,  though  several  of  the 
tribe  remained  lingering  around  the  wigwam. 

"  Thus  far,"  said  the  Knight,  stretching  himself  out  on  a  skin^ 
for  in  whatever  circumstances  he  might  be  placed,  he  was  always 
at  his  ease,  "  hath  heaven  breathed  favoring  airs  into  our  sails. 
We  will  accept  the  omen  and  be  hopeful  for  the  future." 

"  No  more  skilful  ambassador,  it  seems  to  me,"  said  Arundel, 
"  ever  mediated  betwixt  mighty  governments  than  thyself,  Sir 
Christopher.  Why,  Ephraim  Pike  was  right,  and  I  did  injus 
tice  to  his  hang-dog  look  when  I  distrusted  him." 

"What  said  he?"  ino1uired  the  Knight. 

"  That  our  journey  would  be  a  mere  pleasure  flight,  unattended 
with  danger." 

"  He  would  have  found  it  different  had  he  undertaken  it," 
muttered  Sir  Christopher.  "  And  was  it  Ephraim  who  advised 
thee  to  associate  thyself  with  me  ?" , 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICB.      278 

"  He  did  not  presume  to  advise.  I  scarcely  know  how  it  hap 
pened,  but  as  I  accidentally  met  the  man,  the  conversation  turned 
upon  thy  enterprise,  of  the  dangers  whereof  he  made  light." 

"  There  is  some  mystery,"  said  the  Knight,  "  connected  with 
this.  Be  sure  the  obscure  varlet  would  not  have  sought  thee  out 
for  such  a  purpose  of  his  own  motion,  but  was  instigated  thereto 
by  another." 

"  Who  could  that  be,  and  with  what  motive  f 

"  Nay,  I  judge  no  man ;  but,  perhaps,  it  so  happened  that  they 
who  intended  harm  conferred  a  favor." 

At  this  moment  they  saw  approaching  through  the  opening  in 
the  lodge  a  couple  of  squaws,  bearing  in  their  hands  earthen 
pots,  from  which  a  warm  steam  was  issuing.  These  they  brought 
straight  into  the  wigwam,  and,  placing  them  before  the  white 
men,  invited  them  to  eat.  After  a  few  words  from  the  Knight, 
which  the  smiling  faces  of  the  women  showed  were  well  received, 
they  retired,  and  the  two  friends  addressed  themselves  to  a  busi 
ness  seldom  disagreeable,  and  specially  pleasant  to  them.  In  the 
one  vessel  they  found  pieces  of  broiled  venison,  and  in  the  other 
a  composition  at  that  time  peculiar  to  the  Indians,  but  which 
has  since  become  a  favorite  in  New  England,  and  still  retains  its 
Indian  name  of  "  succotash."  It  is  a  dish  consisting  of  sweet 
corn  and  beans  boiled  together,  and  savored  with  some  kind  of 
meat,  according  to  the  taste.  The  meat  preferred  by  the  vitiated 
taste  of  the  whites  is  pork;  but  inasmuch  as  swine  were  unknown 
at  the  time  in  the  country,  except  in  the  civilized  settlements — the 
unclean  animal  having  been  introduced  by  the  Europeans- — its 
place  in  the  present  instance  was  supplied  by  the  more  wholesome 
bear's  meat,  for  such  the  experienced  palate  of  the  Knight  pro 
nounced  it  to  be.  At  the  completion  of  the  'meal,  although  it 
was  early  according  to  our  habits,  the  unbroken  silence  that 
reigned  around  indicated  that  the  Indians  had  retired  to  rest,  and 

12 


274  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

the  two  weary  travelers,  imitating  their  example,  threw  them 
selves  on  their  couches. 

Some  hours  had  passed  since  they  laid  themselves  down  to 
sleep,  when  the  Knight  arose,  and,  after  glancing  at  his  com 
panion,  started,  with  a  light  and  noiseless  step,  to  leave  the  wig 
wam.  At  the  opening  he  found  a  Taranteen,  whom  his  stirring 
had  wakened.  With  him  the  Knight  exchanged  some  whispered 
words,  and  then  took  his  way  in  the  moonlight  toward  a  lodge 
situated  near  the  centre  of  the  village,  and  conspicuous  for  its 
size.  He  met  no  interruption,  and  having  arrived  at  the  entrance, 
drew  aside  the  skin  which  served  for  a  door.  The  first  object 
which  caught  his  eye  was  a  flame  proceeding  from  some  pieces 
of  a  resinous  wood,  which  were  supported  by  a  sort  of  iron 
trestle  standing  on  a  rude  table  in  the  centre,  and  sending  up  spi 
rals  of  smoke  to  escape  by  an  aperture  above.  By  means  of  the 
light  which  this  cast,  he  was  enabled  to  take  a  view  of  the  apart 
ment. 

It  was  of  an  oblong  shape,  some  forty  feet  long  by  twenty 
wide,  and  coming  to  a  line  at  the  top,  and  at  first  seemed  destitute 
of  furniture  and  of  occupants.  As  the  Knight  stood  hesitating,  a 
voice  from  the  remotest  part  of  the  wigwam  addressed  him. 

"  "Welcome  !"  it  said,  in  French,  "  true  son  of  the  Church  ! 
valiant  soldier  of  the  Cross  !  servant  of  Heaven  !  My  soul  hath 
been  in  travail  to  see  thee  ;  and  now,  lam  Deo,  its  desire  is  grati 
fied." 

The  Knight  advanced  in  the  direction  whence  the  voice  pro 
ceeded,  and  when  he  had  passed  on  so  far  that  his  back  was  to 
the  light,  could  see  the  speaker.  He  was  one  who,  whatever 
were  the  mistakes  of  his  creed,  seems  to  have  been  animated  by 
a  purpose  lofty  to  himself,  and  an  ardent  faith  in  its  truth,  and, 
therefore,  honor  be  to  his  memory,  as  well  as  to  all  other  brave 
spirits,  who,  like  him,  (though  erring,)  forget  themselves  for 
others.  But  he  is  worthy  of  description. 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.      275 

He  was  a  man  of  about  sixty  years  of  age,  somewhat  under  the 
middle  size,  but  strongly  made,  and  evidently  capable  of  enduring 
great  fatigue.  His  eyes  were  black  and  piercing,  his  complexion 
so  dark  as  to  be  almost  olive,  and  his  features  regular,  the  mouth 
being  small  and  sharply  chiseled  and  compressed.  Thick,  long, 
white  hair  covered  his  whole  head,  with  the  exception  of  a  small 
round  spot  on  the  crown  which  was  bare,  revealing  the  mark  of 
the  priest,  and  fell  upon  his  shoulders.  He  was  habited  in  a 
long,  closely-fitting  robe  of  some  coarse  material,  which  had  once 
been  black,  but  was  now  faded  and  tarnished  by  time  and  expo 
sure,  and  a  hempen  rope  to  keep  it  in  place  was  girded  about  his 
loins.  Such,  as  we  have  described  him,  was  the  famous  Father 
Le  Vieux,  one  of  the  most  active  and  devoted  among  the  French 
Jesuits  in  America. 

Father  Le  Vieux  had  risen  from  his  seat,  and  was  advancing 
toward  his  visiter,  when  the  latter  first  beheld  him.  As  the  two  men 
drew  nigh,  the  Knight  sunk  on  his  knees  at  the  feet  of  the  priest. 

"  Salve  fili  mi  /"  said  the  father,  laying  his  hands  on  the  head 
of  the  kneeling  Sir  Christopher.  "  Beatus  gui  venit  in  nomine 
Domini.  Arise,  my  son  !"  he  continued,  in  French,  taking  the 
Knight  by  the  hand,  and  assisting  him.  "  Thy  companion,  I 
trust,  sleeps  soundly." 

"  He  is  asleep,  reverend  father,"  answered  the  Knight,  in  the 
same  language,  "  like  one  who  has  made  a  covenant  with  his 
eyes  not  to  open  them  before  morning." 

"  May  the  blessed  angels  press  their  palms  thereupon,  that  he 
awaken  not.  Now,  then,  disclose  to  me  what,  for  our  mutual 
purpose,  it  is  meet  that  I  should  know." 

With  these  words,  he  led  the  way  into  that  part  of  the  lodge 
whence  he  came,  and  was  followed  by  Sir  Christopher,  who  sat 
down  by  his  side  on  a  sort  of  bench. 

"First,  reverend  father,"  said  Sir  Christopher,  "  would  I  con 
fess  my  sins  and  obtain  absolution.  It  is  long  since  my  bosom's 


276  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE. 

stains  were  wiped  out  by  authority  of  Holy  Church,  and  my  soul 
languishes  for  forgiveness," 

"  Kneel,  then,  and  on  peril  of  thy  salvation  keep  nothing  back." 

Sir  Christopher,  with  bowed  head,  knelt  by  his  side,  and,  in 
low-murmured  tones,  while  the  priest  bowed  down  to  him  his 
ear,  made  his  confession.  It  lasted  some  considerable  time,  for 
which  reason  the  good  father  betrayed  a  little  impatience,  either 
because  he  thought  that  the  sins  were  too  trivial  to  be  dwelt 
upon  so  long,  or  because  he  was  anxious  to  hear  the  communica 
tion  of  his  penitent  on  other  matters.  At  its  conclusion,  he 
placed  his  hand  on  the  Knight's  head,  and  said : 

"  The  sins  which,  with  a  penitent  heart  and  lively  faith,  thou 
hast  confessed,  not  having  wilfully  concealed  anything,  and  de 
termined  by  God's  grace  to  commit  them  no  more,  do  I,  a  servant 
of  Holy  Church,  commissioned  for  that  purpose  by  the  successor 
of  blessed  St.  Peter,  whose  are  the  sacred  keys,  and  unto  whom 
and  his  fellow-servants  it  was  promised  by  the  Head  of  the 
Church,  '  whatsoever  ye  bind  on  earth  shall  be  bound  in  Heaven, 
and  whatsoever  ye  loose  on  earth  shall  be  loosed  in  Heaven,'  ab 
solve  thee  from,  and  unbind  and  remit  unto  thee,  both  in  time 
and  in  eternity,  in  nomine  Patris,  Filii^  et  Spiritus  Sanctus.  Amen. 
Rise  and  sin  no  more.  And  now,  make  thy  report." 

The  Knight  rose  from  his  knees  and  resumed  his  seat,  where 
upon  ensued  a  long  conversation. 

It  referred  to  the  condition  of  the  colony  under  Winthrop,  and 
of  the  elder  settlement  at  Plymouth ;  the  prospect  of  their  in 
crease  ;  the  dissensions  among  them ;  the  relations  maintained 
with  the  savages,  and  influence  exerted  over  them  ;  and,  in 
short,  to  whatever  bore  upon  the  present  circumstances  and 
probable  destiny  of  the  two  races.  The  occurrences  at  the 
reception  of  the  Taranteen  embassy  were  also  detailed — the 
appearance  of  Sassacus,  the  excitement  of  the  Indians,  and  the 
consequences  which  followed. 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.  277 

"I  found  it  hard,"  said  Sir  Christopher,  "to  allay  their  wild 
passion  on  the  discovery  of  the  Pequot  Chief.  I  had  to  urge 
upon  them  that  they  were  committed  to  my  care  by  you  (I  had 
before  received  your  missive  from  one  of  them)  and  that  instant 
destruction  would  follow  any  act  of  violence.  I  reminded  them 
that  their  mission  was  one  of  peace,  and  endeavored  to  shame 
them  for  exhibiting  so  much  feeling  at  the  sight  of  a  single  war 
rior.  Nor  was  I  blinded  by  their  apparent  submission,  but  strove 
to  remove  the  Pequot  out  of  their  way.  With  how  little  success 
you  know." 

Father  Le  Vieux  listened  with  profound  attention,  and  from 
time  to  time  made  memoranda  in  his  tablets  of  those  parts  of  the 
communication  which  possessed  for  him  the  deepest  interest.  At 
its  conclusion,  he  continued  silent  awhile,  looking  thoughtfully  on 
the  ground,  as  if  deliberating  over  what  he  had  heard. 

"  The  thoughts  of  man  are  vanity,"  he  said,  at  length.  "  In  a 
way  that  we  dreamed  not  of  hath  Almighty  Wisdom  delivered 
us  from  this  peril.  Vainly,  in  our  ignorance,  we  strove  to  pre 
vent  a  meeting  between  the  Taranteens  and  the  English  heretics  ; 
and  lo,  it  was  the  very  thing  to  be  desired !  They  were  brought 
together  only  to  be  more  widely  divided,  and  a  commencing 
friendship  has  ended  in  a  confirmed  enmity.  Blessed  be  the 
Pequot,  and  mitigated  be  the  pains  of  purgatory  to  the  poor  sa 
vages  who  fell  in  the  night  attack,  for  the  good  they  have  done. 
We  are  now  safe  from  this  danger." 

The  father  paused,  as  if  reflecting,  and  then  again  spoke. 

"It  would  be  strange,"  he  said,  "and  the  thought  itself 
seems  impious,  if  this  goodly  land,  with  its  thousands  of  im 
mortal  souls,  should  be  delivered  over  into  the  hands  of  these 
accursed  heretics.  My  heart  is  troubled,  and  a  sacred  horror  in 
vades  me  when  I  think  thereupon.  This  is  a  time  of  tribulation, 
and  our  faces  gather  blackness.  Holy  Mary !"  he  continued, 
(crossing  himself  and  raising  his  eyes  to  Heaven,)  "intercede  with 


278  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

thy  glorified  Son  to  quicken  our  faith  and  shorten  the  days  of 
our  trouble.  Let  not  these  insatiable  locusts  from  the  pit  of 
darkness,  whose  end  is  destruction — these  deceivers  and  deceived, 
who  would  tear  down  thy  church,  and  defile  her  altars,  have, 
even  in  seeming,  their  will !  O,  let  a  strong  wind  arise  and  cast 
them  into  the  sea,  that  they  may  devour  thy  heritage  no 
more !" 

"  Amen,  and  Amen !"  responded  the  sweet  voice  of  Sir  Chris 
topher.  "  So  may  all  the  enemies  of  the  church  perish  !  But 
O,  holy  father,  sad  is  it  to  see  so  much  heroism  in  men,  so  much 
resigned  fortitude  in  delicate  women,  such  wonderful  courage, 
such  patience  wasted,  in  promoting  error." 

"  Quam  diu  Domine  /"  exclaimed  the  father.  "  The  days  of  man 
are  but  as  a  shadow  and  a  tale  that  is  told.  He  cometh  out  of 
darkness,  and  returneth  thither  again.  But  thy  years,  O  Lord, 
are  everlasting,  and  thy  counsels  like  the  great  deep.  O,  stamp 
this  truth  on  our  hearts,  and  it  shall  cure  our  impatience.  How 
long  Divine  Wisdom  shall  permit  the  raging  waves  of  this  pesti 
lential  heresy  of  the  arch-deceiver,  the  licentious  Luther,  to  beat 
against  His  church,  threatening  as  with  the  jaws  of  hell  to  devour 
her,  it  is  not  for  man  to  know ;  but  we  do  know  that  they  cannot 
prevail,  for  she  is  founded  on  a  rock,  and  bought  with  a  great 
ransom,  and  the  Word  of  God  is  pledged  to  her  triumph.  But 
it  becomes  every  true  son  of  Holy  Church  to  have  his  loins 
girded,  and  to  let  no  weakness  of  the  flesh  or  fainting  of  the 
spirit  interfere,  to  delay  that  hoped-for  time  when  this  miserable 
delusion  shall  disappear.  Verily,  heavy  is  the  task  imposed  on 
feeble  shoulders ;  but  in  the  strength  of  One  who  can  supply 
strength,  will  we  prevail." 

"Has  any  information,"  inquired  Sir  Christopher,  "been  re 
ceived  respecting  the  new  colony  to  be  planted  under  Lord  Balti 
more,  in  Maryland,  or  promise  of  assistance  from  our  friends  at 
home?" 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  279 

"  The  English  Catholics,"  answered.  Father  Le  Vieux,  "  are 
lukewarm.  The  air  of  their  foggy  isle  is  tainted.  Not  much  do 
I  expect  from  this  Cecil,  Lord  Baltimore.  He  is,  forsooth,  a  phi 
losopher — a  man  who  stands  half  the  time  upon  his  head — for 
he  is  one  of  them  who  are  puffed  up  with  conceit  of  worldly 
knowledge,  and  who,  in  contradiction  of  Holy  Scripture,  assert, 
with  Galileo  Galilei,  that  this  world  is  a  ball  which  daily 
turns  round.  His  company  has  not  arrived,  and  never  may 
arrive.  Not  on  the  timorous  and  doubting  English  Catholics,  but 
on  my  own  brave  countrymen  and  the  faithful  Spaniards,  must 
we  rely  for  the  accomplishment  of  the  j^eaven-inspired  thought 
of  our  great  founder,  the  immortal  Loyola." 

"  Expect  you,"  inquired  Sir  Christopher,  "  to  convert  these 
English  colonies  into  dependencies  of  France  or  Spain  ?" 

"  To  you  and  to  me,  and  every  true  Catholic,  it  is  of  little 
consequence  whether  they  be  French,  or  Spanish,  or  English  col 
onies,  so  they  be  gathered  into  the  bosom  of  Mother  Church. 
Of  how  little  moment  are  the  transitory  things  of  time,  our  poor 
distinctions  of  nationalities,  our  weak  prejudices,  our  loves  and 
hates,  in  comparison  with  eternity  and  its  determinations.  Then, 
in  that  other  world,  there  will  be  neither  French,  nor  English, 
nor  Spanish,  but  '  the  blessed  of  the  Father,'  to  enter  the  king 
dom  prepared  for  them  ;  or  howling  heretics,  whose  doom  is  fire 
unquenchable." 

"  Holy  Father,"  said  the  Knight,  "  I  pray,  you  to  forgive  me  ; 
but,  in  my  ignorance,  I  by  no  means  approve  of  your  design,  nor 
have  I  confidence  in  its  success.  Consider  the  consequence, 
should  even  a  suspicion  of  it  be  entertained  by  the  Government 
of  England.  These  colonies  are  now  regarded  as  only  nests  of 
wild  sectaries,  who  have  fled  from  restraint  at  home  to  indulge 
fanatical  imaginations  in  a  wilderness.  At  present,  they  are  neg 
lected  and  despised  by  the  general,  none,  save  those  of  their  own 
infatuated  faith,  thinking  of,  or  countenancing  them ;  but,  let  it 


280  THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

be  once  surmised  that  France  or  Spain  is  attempting,  either  by 
fraud  or  violence,  to  set  foot  among  them,  and  you  will  see  the 
whole  force  of  the  kingdom  in  arms  to  counteract  your  plot^  and 
thousands  of  heretic  emigrants  will  arrive,  where  now  only  a  few 
make  their  appearance." 

"  My  son,  it  is  easier  to  crush  error  in  the  egg  than  in  the  full- 
grown  serpent.     But  forget  you  not  that  you  are  only  a  secular 
coadjutor,  and  therefore  bound  simply  to  obey  ?" 
"Peccavi"  said  the  Knight,  bending  his  head. 
"Absolve.     I  espied  this   weakness   in  the  confession  of  sins, 
and  now  solemnly  warn  thee  against  it.     Attend,  my  son,  and  be 
my  words  remembered.     I  perceive  in  thee  a  jealousy  of  the  po 
litical  power  of  other  nations,  when  they  conflict  with  thine  own. 
This,  to  the  untutored  mind  of  the  vulgar,  seems  commendable, 
yet  do  I  reprehend  it,  and  say  unto  it,  'Apage,  Sathanas  f  as  the 
fruitful  seed  of  discord  betwixt  nations,  and  an  impediment  in  the 
march  of  the  Church.     As  high  as  the  concerns  of  Heaven  trans 
cend  those  of  earth,  do  the  interests  of  the  true  and  universal 
Church  those  of  the  petty  kingdoms  which,  for  their  own  good, 
she  subjects  to  her  control.    They  are  not  to  be  thought  of  when 
her  magnificent  voice  is  heard.     Who  is  it  speaks  from  the  chair 
of  St.  Peter,  but  the  Vicegerent  of  God?     Who  is  Vitalleschi, 
our  chief,  but  another  accredited  instrument  to  accomplish  the 
salvation  .'of  the  nations  ?     And  if  it  be  the  duty  of  every  Cath 
olic  to  set  the  welfare  of  the  Church  before  all  other  considera 
tions,  and  to  die  a  thousand  deaths  before  abandoning  it,  how 
much  more  is  it  the  life-business  of  each  member  of  the  Society 
of  Jesus  to  sacrifice  all  things  for  her !     Power,  wealth,  fame, 
life,  and  honor,  which  some  value  more  than  life,  what  are  they 
all  when  weighed  against  that  one  duty  and  the  reward  that 
awaits  its  observance  ?     The  principles  of  the  blessed  Company 
of  Jesus  are  not  the  crude  fancies  of  some  crazy  heretic,  nor  sug 
gestions  of  man's  unguided  reason,  but  they  are  conclusions  of 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  281 

wise  men  inspired  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  infallibly  directed  to 
truth  !  Such  thou  and  I  have  acknowledged  them  to  be  by  be 
coming  members  of  the  Order,  and  thereby  assuming  its  obliga 
tions.  My  faith  burns  daily  brighter — each  obstacle  but  inflames 
my  zeal.  If,  by  my  martyrdom,  I  could  advance  our  cause  one 
hour,  how  gladly  would  I  lay  down  a  life  worthless,  if  not  spent  in 
the  service  of  the  Church."  f 

Father  Le  Vieux  paused,  his  fine  face  beaming  with  enthusiasm, 
while  the  Knight  bent  again  his  head,  and,  kissing  the  priest's 
hand,  murmured  "  Peccavi"  • 

"  Thy  faithfulness  I  commend,"  resumed  the  father,  "  but  as 
thy  spiritual  guide,  I  warn  thee  against  human  weakness.  It  is 
a  mighty  discourager  of  great  undertakings.  Only  by  faith  and 
remembrance  of  what  thou  art  vowed  to,  can  it  be  overcome. 
Nor  doubt,  though  thou  dost  not  clearly  understand,  and  but  lit 
tle  progress  seems  to  be  made.  Remember  that  though  we  must 
soon  depart,  the  Society  of  Jesus  remains.  Our  Order  may  be 
as  the  drops  of  water  perpetually  falling  on  a  rock,  which  are 
dashed  into  fragments  by  the  fall ;  yet  is  the  fate  of  the  repelling 
body  inevitable,  and,  after  Centuries,  it  is  doomed  to  be  washed 
away." 

"  Reverend  Father,"  said  the  Knight,  "  I  will  bury  thy  words, 
in  my  mind,  and  often  meditate  upon  them." 

"  Do  so,  my  son,  and  by  the  aid  of  Holy  Mary,  and  the  Saints, 
and  blessed  Evangelists,  doubt  not  they  will  profit.  But  I  charge 
thee  to  beware  of  laic  reason  and  human  impulses.  Refer  all 
things  to  the  standard  whereby  thou  hast  been  taught,  for  so 
only  will  it  be  well.  Farewell ;  morning  approaches,  and  I  de 
part,  for  I  would  not  have  the  presence  of  a  white  man  suspected 
by  thy  companion.  I  will  communicate  further  with  thee  as 
opportunity  presents,  and,  meanwhile,  I  will  consider  how  thy 
mission  may  be  made  to  redound  most  to  the  honor  of  the 
Church.  If,  by  restraining  the  ferocity  of  the  Taranteens,  the 

12* 


282  THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

end  may  be  accomplished,  gladly  will  I  exert  my  influence  there 
for  ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  if  I  see  that  a  union  among  the  tribes 
can  be  effected,  whereby  these  intrusive  Philistines  can  be  driven 
from  the  land,  I  will  put  myself  at  the  head  of  our  savage  friends, 
and  Winthrop  and  his  unhappy  followers  shall  be  doomed." 

He  ceased,  and  bowed,  and  the  Knight  reverently  bending  his 
body,  took  leave. 


CHAPTER    XXI. 


Low,  reverently  low, 
Make  thy  stubborn  knowledge  bow, 
"Weep  out  thy  reason's  and  thy  body's  eyes, 
Deject  thyself,  that  thou  mayest  rise, 
To  look  to  heaven — be  blind  to  all  below. 

MATHEW  PBIOB. 


ON  rising,  which  he  did  with  the  sun,  leaving  the  Knight  buried 
in  sleep,  Arundel  took  his  way  through  the  village  to  enjoy  the 
fresh  morning  air  and  examine  the  Indian  wigwams,  it  being  the 
first  considerable  collection  of  them  which  he  had  seen.  He 
found  them,  to  the  number  of  forty  or  fifty,  extending  at  a  dis 
tance  of  four  or  five  rods  from  one  another,  in  a  couple  of  wide 
avenues,  from  the  edge  of  a  wood  to  the  margin  of  a  river.  The 
piece  of  ground  on  which  the  lodges  were  built  seemed  to  be  a 
bit  of  alluvial  formed  by  the  overflowing  of  the  river.  All 
along  the  stream  were  scattered  fields  of  maize,  whose  tall,  stout 
stalks  attested  the  richness  of  the  soil.  The  cultivation  was  of 
that  sluggish  and  negligent  description  which  was  to  be  expected 
from  the  indolent  character  of  the  Indians,  it  being  entirely  en 
trusted  to  the  squaws,  the  men  considering  labor  beneath  their 
dignity.  The  object  was  attained,  if  the  plants  were  sufficiently 
protected  against  the  encroaching  weeds  to  enable  them  to  over 
top  the  latter,  after  which  they  were  left  to  take  care  of  them 
selves.  Yet,  notwithstanding  all  this  negligence,  prodigal  Nature 


284     THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

rendered  a  rich  return.  It  has  been  said  (with  what  truth  we 
know  not)  that  the  weeds  of  a  soil  depend  upon  the  race  which 
cultivates  it — they  which  spring  from  the  sweat  of  an' Indian  being 
different  from  those  which  embarrass  the  toil  of  the  white  man 
or  the  negro.  If  it  be  so,  then  have  we  perhaps  another  proof 
of  the  kind  accommodation  of  mother  Earth  to  her  children,  ex 
cusing  for  the  reluctant  Indian  that  labor  which  she  exacts  from 
the  hardier  white  and  black  man. 

As  Arundel  passed  by  the  bark  wigwams,  he  was  able  to  form 
some  opinion  of  the  mode  of  life  of  the  Taranteens.  Indolently 
thrown  upon  the  ground  in  front  of  his  lodge,  in  the  soft  summer 
morning,  he  beheld  its  master  inhaling  the  fumes  of  that  perni 
cious  but  seductive  plant,  which  is  one  of  the  few  gifts  the  North 
American  savage  has  transmitted  to  his  conquerors,  that  promise 
to  perpetuate  his  memory.  Little  children,  of  whom  seldom 
more  than  two  or  three  were  to  be  seen  in  any  wigwam,  played 
around  him,  now  and  then  obtaining  a  word  of  notice,  while 
the  patient  squaws  were  either  engaged  in.  ordinary  culinary  prep 
arations,  or,  if  more  than  one  wife  wterc  in  the  lodge,  dividing 
their  labors  among  themselves,  the  one  cooking,  a  second  mending 
mocasons  or  robes,  and  a  third  preparing  to  start  with  her  agri 
cultural  tools,  made  of  Quohaug  shells,  (a  large  kind  of  clam,) 
for  the  maize  field.  Here  and  there  he  could  see  young  men 
armed  with  bows  and  arrows,  leaving  for  the  surrounding  woods, 
in  pursuit  of  that  game  on  which  was  their  principal  dependance 
for  food.  Only  one  old  person  did  he  behold,  whence  he  inferred 
that  their  precarious  life  was  unfavorable  to  longevity.  He 
lounged  throughout  the  whole  encampment  without  interruption, 
sometimes  regarded  with  a  frown,  sometimes  with  a  smile,  but 
for  the  most  part  treated  with  indifference. 

The  monotony  of  Indian  life  affords  little  to  interest  during  the 
week  spent  by  Sir  Christopher  and  Arundel  among  the  Taran 
teens.  It  was  passed  by  the  latter  in  daily  hunts  with  some 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.      285 

young  Taranteens,  with  whom  he  had  contrived  to  ingratiate 
himself,  and  to  whom  his  gun  was  no  unwelcome  assistant  in  the 
chase.  The  Knight  had  assured  him  of  the  absence  of  all  danger 
from  the  Indians,  but  even  without  such  assurance,  Arundel 
would  have  preferred  to  encounter  some  peril  rather  than  submit 
to  the  tedium  he  must  otherwise  have  endured. 

As  for  Sir  Christopher,  his  preconcerted  meeting  with  Father 
Le  Vieux,  and  the  conversation  betwixt  them,  prove  that  he  had 
other  objects  besides  the  establishment  of  peace  between  the 
English  and  the  Taranteens.  The  determination  of  the  question 
of  peace  or  war  seemed  to  be  left  entirely  with  the  Father.  "We 
may  consider  his  remaining  in  the  village  was  for  the  purpose  of 
waiting  for  the  announcement  of  the  conclusion  to  which  the 
Indians,  under  the  direction  of  the  Jesuit  priest,  should  come, 
and  also  to  arrange  their  mutual  plans ;  for,  taking  advantage 
of  the  absence  of  Arundel,  which,  as  is  seen,  he  encouraged, 
the  Knight  had  frequent  conferences  with  the  priest,  the  grand 
object  of  which  was  Jo  advance  such  measures  as  might 
obtain  the  whole  of  North  America  for  the  Catholics,  as  South 
America  had  already  been  secured.  It  would  seem  that,  although 
the  Knight  had  the  accomplishment  of  that  result  as  much  at 
heart  as  the  priest  himself,  his  national  pride  and  patriotism  re 
lucted  attthe  idea  that  English  colonies  should  become  possessions 
of  the  hereditary  enemies  of  his  nation.  It  was  to  combat  this 
notion,  and  to  satisfy  him  of  his  duty,  to  trample  upon  it  at  the 
foot  of  the  cross,  that  the  arguments  of  the  father  were  directed. 
The  plan  of  Sir  Christopher  was  to  supplant  and  overpower  the 
Puritans  with  English  Catholics,  which,  by  the  aid  of  the 
immense  wealth  of  the  Church,  and  the  ability  of  the  enterprising 
Jesuits,  he  doubted  not  might  be  done,  but  not  to  make  the  colony 
French.  Devoted  Catholic  as  he  was,  he  was  unable  to  renounce 
his  love  of  country. 

Not  so  with  the  father.     With  the  sagacity  of  a  priest,  he 


286     THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

placed  no  dependence  upon  any  portion  of  a  people  whose  coun 
cils  were  ruled  by  Protestants,  and  with  the  conceit  of  a  French 
man,  he  had  unlimited  confidence  in  la  grdnde  nation ;  besides, 
he  had  been  a  witness,  and  partaken  of  the  sufferings  of  his  breth 
ren,  the  French  Jesuits,  among  the  savages,  and  he  relied  much 
on  a  zeal,  the  superior  of  which  the  world  has  never  seen,  and 
which  he  believed  sanctioned  by  heaven,  and  in  spite  of  him 
self,  and  try  as  he  might  to  persuade  himself  of  the  contrary, 
national  feeling  (as  in  the  case  of  Sir  Christopher)  mingled  with 
the  aspirations  of  the  religionist.  He  would,  indeed,  rather  than 
fail,  have  courted  the  Turk  himself,  on  whom  he  looked  with 
eyes  about  as  favorable  as  on  a  Protestant,  but  he  preferred  that 
his  own  nation,  as  well  as  his  own  order,  should  monopolize  both 
the  glory  and  the  advantages  of  the  achievement.  These  feelings, 
secret  almost  to  himself,  he  carefully  kept  concealed  from  Sir 
Christopher,  whom  he  regretted  was  not  a  countryman,  and  con 
fined  himself  to  the  religious  aspect  of  the  case.  No  opportunity 
to  remove  a  doubt,  or  inflame  the  zeal  of  his  coadjutor,  did  he 
allow  to  escape. 

"  There  is  but  one  Church,"  he  said,  in  one  of  their  conversa 
tions,  "  and  only  through  her  sacred  portals  is  the  kingdom  of 
heaven  to  be  entered — a  truth  received  by  every  Catholic — else, 
vain  and  unmeaning  was  the  solemn  tradition  of  the  keys  to  St. 
Peter.  They  who  are  not  for  her  are  against  her,  and  must  be 
subdued  to  obedience  by  mild  means  if  they  will  suffice — by  harsh, 
if  necessary." 

"  To  these  truths  I  give  my  entire  assent,"  said  the  Knight. 

"  I  doubt  it  not — I  doubt  it  not ;  bat  let  all  take  heed,  my  son, 
not  to  exhaust  belief  in  the  shadowy  region  of  theory.  Truth 
should  be  an  armed  soldier  to  step  out  to  deeds." 

"  Lord  !  strengthen  me,"  said  the  Knight,  humbly. 

"  Such,"  said  the  father,  "  is  the  prayer  of  every  true  Catho 
lie.    Forgive  me,  my  son,  if,  for  the  refreshing  of  my  own  resolu- 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.      287 

tion,  and  the  strengthening  of  thy  soul,  I  repeat  familiar  truths, 
but  which  cannot  be  too  often  reiterated,  or  long  enough  medi 
tated  upon.  Methinks  that  as  I  give  their  vocal  sweetness  to  the 
air,  these  old  woods  do  assume  a  more  reverent  aspect,  and  a  tide 
of  holier  transport  streams  through  my  heart.  Holy  Jesus  !  I 
would  have  no  will ;  I  would  have  no  mind  but  thine.  Swallow 
me  up  in  thine  ineffable  perfections." 

The  two  crossed  themselves  at  the  sacred  name,  and  the  Knight 
softly  said,  "  Amen." 

"  But  let  us  be  cautious,"  continued  the  priest,  (t  not  to  de 
ceive  ourselves  as  do  some,  who  fancy  themselves  sound,  and  yet 
are  diseased  ;  who  mix  up  the  suggestions  of  the  carnal  under 
standing  with  heavenly  promptings.  Said  not  holy  St.  .Augus 
tine,  credo  quia  impossibile  est  1  There  are  minds  too  shallow 
to  perceive  the  profound  wisdom  of  the  maxim,  and  scoff  at  it  as 
an  absurdity.  By  God's  grace,  my  son,  we  are  not  of  the  num 
ber.  We  see  it ;  we  feel  it.  Thanks  to  the  discipline  wherewith 
we  have  been  exercised.  Our  souls  do  calmly  repose  on  this  truth, 
and  in  its  strength  shall  the  servants  of  the  church  triumph. 
What  is  impossible  to  man,  is  possible  with  God." 

"  I  embrace  this  truth,"  said  Sir  Christopher. 

"  Nor  when  commanded  by  a  superior  is  it  ours  to  question,  in 
imaginary  wisdom,  as  is  the  manner  of  the  world,  the  propriety 
of  the  order.  As  an  archangel,  commissioned  by  the  Supreme 
Intelligence  to  execute  his  decrees,  and  pour  pestilence  or  famine 
upon  a  land  devoted  to  destruction  for  its  sins,  may  not  say  what 
doest  thouj  so  must  not  a  servant  of  the  Order  of  Jesus  doubt  the 
inspiration  of  him  whom  he  is  bound  to  obey.  Does  he  so,  he  is 
too  weak  for  the  post  whereunto  his  presumption  has  aspired,  and 
false  alike  to  himself  and  the  cause  he  espoused.  Not  unto  the 
weak  in  mind,  but  to  the  strong  in  faith,  is  committed  the  cause 
of  the  Church." 

"  Holy  Father,"  said   the  Knight,  "  your   words  probe   the 


288      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

secrets  of  my  soul.  I  do  intend,  and  practice  always,  perfect 
obedience  to  my  superior,  knowing  that  whatever  is  ordered  by 
him  whom  the  ordinance  of  God,  and  of  our  holy  Order  hath  set 
over  me,  I  may  not  only  perform  without  sin,  but  that  the  same 
will  redound  to  my  salvation  ;  and  yet,  in  spite  of  fastings  and 
prayers,  do  involuntary  doubts  sometimes  creep  into  my  mind, 
which  I  hasten  to  banish,  as  the  whisperings  of  the  devil." 

"  They  are — they  are  the  instigations  of  Sathanas,"  said  the 
priest,  crossing  himself.  "  O,  my  son,  whenever  these  tempta 
tions  occur,  remember  thy  vows  and  obligations,  and  betake  thy 
self  more  diligently  to  prayer  and  penance.  But,  Sir  Christopher, 
it  becomes  me  not  to  address  thee  as  a  babe  in  Christ.  Though 
it  be  thy  pleasure  to  remain  in  an  inferior  position,  thou  hast  a 
mind  which  soars  with  the  highest  in  the  order,  and  comprehends 
the  theory  and  working  of  our  regimen.  Upon  the  divine  pat 
tern  have  we  modeled  our  system,  and  the  operation  of  the  same 
must  run  parallel  therewith.  As  at  the  head  of  the  Universe 
stands  the  Law-giver  and  Ruler,  so  with  us ;  as  obedience  to  him 
is  order  and  truth,  so  with  us ;  as  to  accomplish  his  purposes  he 
makes  use  of  all  influences,  tempest,  lightning,  plague,  pestilence, 
the  sword,  as  well  as  of  the  breeze  of  health,  the  refreshing  rain 
and  golden  sunshine,  now  melting  with  his  smile,  and  now  terri 
fying  with  his  frown,  so  do  we.  Teaches  not  God  by  his  exam 
ple  how  to  govern  his  world  ?" 

11  Aye,  possessed  we  his  wisdom,"  said  the  Knight. 

"  Doubt  not,  that  if  with  a  holy  motive  we  seek  to  do  his  will, 
He  will  furnish  the  wisdom.  Blessed  unto  the  children  of  Israel 
was  their  obedience,  when  hearkening  unto  Moses,  God's  vicege 
rent  to  them,  they  did,  stifling  all  suggestions  of  infatuated  reason 
which  would  stamp  the  deed  as  a  cruelty,  put  to  the  edge  of  the 
sword  thousands  of  men,  women,  and  children,  of  the  unhappy 
Canaanites.  Who  will  doubt  it  right?  And  thinkest  thou  the 
authority  of  Moses  over  a  few  wild  tribes  more  prevailing,  and 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.  289 

an  act  sanctioned  by  him  a  temporary  guide,  more  pleasing  than 
one  approved  by  the  successors  of  St.  Peter,  more  solemnly  and 
extensively  invested  with  the  divine  power,  and  destined  to  exist 
to  the  end  of  the  world  ?     If  the  offending  heathen  might  lawfully 
be  slaughtered  at  the  command  of  the  Jewish  leader,  it  is  impious 
to  shrink   from  sacrifices  like  those  on  the  altar  of  St.  Barthol 
omew,  when  required  by  the  Vicar  of  Christ.     If  by  direction  of 
one  entitled  to  give  the  order,  I  slay  my  brother,  my  motive  being 
obedience,  and  the  promotion  of  the  interests  of  the  Church,  the 
greater  is  my  reward  for  overcoming  the  weakness  of  the  flesh, 
and  forcing  it,  albeit,  reluctant,  to  obey.    Emptied  of  myself  I  am 
filled  with  divine  grace.     The  creature  is  enabled  to  be  made  the 
sword  of  the  creator.    A  higher  reason,  incomprehensible  because 
so  high,  is  substituted  for  the  lower,  and  the  dogma  of  St.  Augus 
tine  becomes  an  animating  principle  and  a  living  power.     Try, 
prove,  search,  examine  thyself,  my  son,  and  thou  wilt  find  these 
doubts  do  arise  from  the  rebellious  reason  ever  ready  to  set  itself 
up  as  God,  and  to  demand  the  worship  which  belongs  to  Him. 
Each  one  would  be  a  law  unto  himself,  and  hence  as  many  laws 
as   law-givers.     Let   the  reason   of  man   prevail,    (an  impious 
thought,  and  an  impossible  fact,)  and  the  seamless  coat  of  Christ 
is  rent,  a  deluge  of  all  manner  of  heresies  and  abominations  fol 
lows,  and  Zion  in  sackcloth  mourns  her  blighted  hopes.     Behold 
the  condition  of  the  world,  how  it  confirms  my  words  1" 

"  Father,  feeling  as  well  as  the  unsanctified  reason,  does  at 
times  rebel." 

"  Alas,  they  are  conspirators  together.  How  willingly  the  one 
echoes  the  fancies  of  the  other,  while  they  deal  out  mutual  en 
couragement  !  But  it  needs  not  to  say,  to  thee  at  least,  that 
feeling  can  be  no  criterion  of  truth  ;  or,  rather,  that  the  disturb 
ance  of  the  faculties,  baptized  with  the  name  of  feeling,  and  which 
springs  from  a  corrupt  nature,  must  be  hostile  thereto.  There  is 
in  high  contemplations  on  man's  duties,  but  one  infallible  test  of 


290      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

truth,  viz :  the  Holy  Scriptures,  as  interpreted  by  the  faithful 
witness,  the  Church.  To  them,  my  son,  the  one  as  the  record,  and 
the  other  as  the  inspired  interpreter,  is  it  our  duty,  and  should  be 
the  business  of  our  lives,  to  bring  into  subjection  the  rebellious 
passions,  the  fainting  weaknesses  and  erring  reason.  Inspired 
by  this  grand  truth,  behold  thousands  of  devoted  men  and  women, 
weak  with  human  infirmity,  but  sustained  by  courage  from  on 
high,  renouncing  the  dulcet,  but  transitory  enjoyments  of  this  life, 
to  encounter,  for  the  salvation  of  their  souls,  and  of  others,  pri 
vation  and  sorrow,  and  painful  death.  Quce  terra  non  plena  nostri 
laboris  1  Yet,  O  how  contemptible  is  the  suffering,  when  com 
pared  with  the  joy  of  the  hope  which  is  set  before  us — of  the 
starry  crown  that  awaits  the  willing  martyr !  Feed  thy  soul, 
my  son,  on  these  divine  contemplations,  until  they  become  a  part 
of  thyself,  and  the  path  that  leads  to  a  bloody  grave  shall  be 
strewed  with  roses.  Be  the  motto  of  our  order  forever  before 
thine  eyes.  From  the  mystical  words  in  majorem  gloriam  Dei, 
shall  beam  a  light  brighter  and  more  blessed  than  that  of  the 
sun,  for  it  flows  from  the  throne  of  the  Eternal." 

With  suggestions  and  arguments  like  these  did  the  enthusiastic 
father  endeavor  to  animate  and  confirm  the  less  exalted  resolu 
tion  of  his  fellow-laborer.  Nor  were  they  without  an  influence. 
As  the  thirsty  traveller,  faint  and  worn  with  the  toil  and  heat  of 
the  day,  drinks  of  the  refreshing  spring,  and  bathes  his  brow  in 
its  cooling  waters,  and  goes  strengthened  on  his  way,  so  did  the 
Knight  derive  vigor  from  his  words. 

At  their  last  meeting,  Father  Le  Vieux  announced  the  conclu 
sion  to  which  he  had  persuaded  the  Taranteens. 

"  Hostilities  at  the  present  time  were  premature,"  he  said. 
"  The  tribes  are  not  sufficiently  united  to  make  head,  with  all  the 
assistance  we  can  afford,  against  the  heretics.  We  will  wait 
awhile,  until  the  present  supposed  outrage  is  followed  by  another 
— and,  in  the  position  and  temper  of  the  English,  it  is  inevitable 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  291 

— which  shall  rouse  other  tribes.  Be  sure,  the  Taranteens  will 
not  forget.  The  war-whoop  must  sound  simultaneously,  from 
the  Kennebec  to  the  mouth  of  the  Connecticut,  or  our  labor  will 
be  worse  than  lost.  Meanwhile,  a  great  advantage  has  been 
gained.  A  gulf  is  now  between  the  proud  Englishman  and  the 
Taranteen,  over  which  neither  will  pass.  Your  report,  then,  to 
them  who  sent  you  will  be  peace.  Thus  will  their  confidence  in 
you  and  your  influence  be  increased."  [At  the  same  time  the 
father  gave  a  letter  for  Sister  Celestina.]  "  Tell  her,"  he  con 
tinued,  "  of  my  admiration  of  her  devotion.  Blessed  be  she 
among  women !" 

Thus  they  parted,  the  priest  to  return  to  his  self-sacrificing 
labors  among  the  Indians,  at  no  distant  period  to  end  in  that 
crown  of  martyrdom  after  which  his  soul  panted,  and  the  Knight 
to  his  post  of  observation  near  the  English  colony. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

"  So  full  of  passion  were  his  amorous  glances, 

So  artfully  the  wicked  jade  dissembled, 
So  well  each  sighed  ridiculous  romances, 

That  for  them  both,  I  TOW,  I  fairly  trembled." 

ANomrMotrs, 

DURING  the  absence  of  the  Knight  and  his  young  friend,  events 
had  occurred  which  require  us  to  shift  the  scene  of  our  theatre 
to  Boston  and  its  environs. 

The  indefatigable  Spikeman  continued  to  prosecute  his  in 
trigues  with  his  accustomed  audacity.  The  evil  passion  which 
he  had  conceived  for  the  pretty  Prudence,  so  far  from  being 
checked  by  the  repulses  he  received  from  the  wily  maiden — re 
pulses  which  left  room  for  hope — only  stimulated  to  redoubled 
exertion.  He  was  like  a  sportsman,  whose  eagerness  in  the  pursuit 
of  game  is  only  heightened  by  its  shyness  and  difficulty  of  cap 
ture  ;  and,  with  no  disparagement  of  the  virtue  of  the  co 
quettish  girl,  it  must  be  admitted  that,  for  the  want  of  something 
better  to  exercise  her  active  faculties,  (the  difficulties  of  her  in 
terviews  with  Philip  having  increased  since  his  banishment,)  she 
found  a,  mischievous  delight  in  the  power  she  possessed  over 
Spikeman,  and  in  playing  off  her  caprices  at  his  expense.  So  far, 
indeed,  by  her  blandishments,  had  she  succeeded  in  blinding  his 
eyes  and  subjecting  him  to  her  power,  that  she  herself  wondered 
at  her  success.  The  path  which  she  was  treading  was  danger- 


294     THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELIOE. 

ous,  but  her  youthful  presumption,  and  the  pleasure  she  derived 
from  the  influence  which  the  insane  passion  of  the  Assistant  gave 
her  over  him,  stopped  her  ears  to  the  warnings  of  prudence  and 
the  suggestions  of  propriety.  If  Philip  Joy,  whom  with  no 
divided  affection  she  loved  in  her  own  way,  had  known  all,  he 
would  scarcely  have  been  so  contented  at  the  dwelling  of  Sir 
Christopher.  Yet,  as  we  have  seen,  did  Prudence  make  no  se 
cret  to  Philip  of  the  admiration  of  Spikeman ;  and,  after  the 
first  conversation  in  which  she  disclosed  it,  had  more  than  once 
laughed  with  him  at  the  advances  of  her  antiquated  lover.  But 
her  disclosures  were  made  in  such  a  manner — with  such  a  half- 
telling  of  the  truth — with  such  a  revelation  here,  and  a  conceal 
ment  there,  as  to  provoke  more  merriment  than  apprehension. 

Nor,  while  indulging  a  feeling  which  cannot  be  called  love, 
was  Spikeman  regardless  of  his  hatreds.  He  strove  by  every 
means  to  excite  distrust  and  ill-will  against  Sir  Christopher  and 
Arundel.  As  for  the  humble  Philip,  he  hardly  looked  upon  him 
any  longer  as  a  rival,  such  had  been  the  success  of  the  deceitful 
Prudence.  With  these  preliminary  observations,  the  reader  is 
prepared  for  what  follows. 

It  was  at  the  house  of  the  Assistant  Spikeman,  and  there 
were  no  persons  in  the  room  save  himself  and  Prudence.  The 
door  was  closed,  and  the  girl  was  standing  with  a  besom  in  one 
hand,  while  the  Assistant,  who  was  seated,  had  hold  of  the 
other,  and  was  looking  up  into  her  hazel  eyes.  He  drew  her 
down  with  a  force  which  was  not  resisted,  and  imprinted  a  kiss 
on  the  cheek  she  half  averted. 

"  Prudence,"  he  said,  "  how  long  shall  I  languish  I  Verily  am 
I  as  one  who  longs  for  the  dawn."  » 

"  You  do  not  love  me  half  as  much  as  you  pretend,"  said  the 
girl,  still  standing  by  his  side,  and  suffering  her  hand  to  be 
pressed  by  his.  "  There  is  too  wide  a  difference  betwixt  us,  and  I 
am  all  the  time  afraid  you  are  only  making  a  fool  of  me." 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.  295 

"  By  this  palm,  softer  than  the  down  of  the  cygnet ;  by  thy  lips, 
redder  than  rubies ;  by  thy  diamond  eyes,  I  swear  I  love  thee 
dearer  than  my  own  soul,"  exclaimed  Spikeman. 

"  How  can  you  speak  of  your  soul,"  said  Prudence,  smiling  as 
she  spoke,  "  when  you  know  you  are  talking  and  acting  like  a 
wicked  man  T1 

"  Canst  thou  not  understand  the  liberty  of  the  saints  ?  Is  it 
not  written,  that  to  him  only  who  thinketh  a  thing  to  be  evil, 
it  is  evil  ?  Surely,  I  have  explained  all  this,  .even  unto 
weariness?" 

"  Aye,  it  may  be  so  with  thee ;  but  I  am  no  saint.  I  am 
afraid  I'm  doing  very  wrong." 

"  If  you  thought  so,"  replied  the  Assistant,  gently  drawing  her 
down  upon  his  lap,  "  would  you  occupy  this  place  ;  would  a  smile 
beautify  those  intoxicating  lips,  and  would  I  read  paradise  in 
thine  eyes  1" 

Prudence  threw  her  arm  round  Spikeman's  neck,  and  sunk  her 
face  upon  his  shoulder,  as  if  to  evince  her  tenderness  and  hide  her 
blushes,  but  in  truth,  to  conceal  a  disposition  to  laugh. 

"  I  wish,"  she  said,  presently  raising  her  head,  and  looking 
Spikeman  bewitchingly  in  the  face,  "  I  knew  whether  you  really 
mean  what  you  say  ?" 

"  Thou  art  unjust  to  me,  Prudence.     Have  I  not  giyen  every 

possible  proof  of  affection  ?     What  hast  thou  asked  that  I  have 

withheld  ?     Have  I  not  treated  thee  as  the  elect  lady  of  my  soul  f 

"  Nay,  there  be  some  things  which  you  refuse  to  tell  me.     I 

am  foolish,"  she  added,  forcing  some  moisture  into   her  eyes; 

«  but— but " 

''•  But  what,  O  garden  of  delights"?"  asked  Spikeman,  kissing 
the  hypocritical  tears  away. 

"  When  you  refuse  me  anything,  I  think  you  do  not  love — 
love  me." 

"  Ask,  and  thou  wilt  be  convinced  of  the  contrary." 


296      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

"  I  am  but  a  woman,"  she  said,  looking  at  him  with  a  smile 
so  sweet  that  we  almost  pardon  poor  Spikeman  his  infatuation, 
"  and  I  feel  like  dying  when  I  know  there  is  a  secret,  and  cannot 
get  at  the  bottom  of  it." 

"  What  secret  t     I  understand  thee  not." 

"  If  you  yourself  had  not  dropped  a  hint,  I  had  never  thought 
of  it ;  but  it  was  about  this  Knight  they  call  Sir  Christopher 
Gardiner,  whom  Governor  Winthrop  thinks  so  much  of." 

"  We  will  cure  him  of  that  folly.  What  foolish  thing  have  I 
said  to  this  girl?"  thought  the  Assistant.  "Prudence,"  he  ad 
ded,  "  this  is  a  matter  that  cannot  concern  thee.  Thou  wouldst 
not  have  me  speak  of  secrets  of  State  I" 

"  Said  I  not  right !"  exclaimed  Prudence,  rising,  and  preparing 
to  leave  the  room,  "  that  your  love  was  but  a  pretext  ?"  How, 
I  want  to  know,  is  a  secret  of  State  better  than  any  other1? 
Now,  had  I  given  poor  Philip  half  the  encouragement  which  my 

silly  fondness   for   thee O,   dear  ! "  and   she  put  her 

hands  up  to  her  eyes. 

"  Come,"  said  Spikeman,  pursuing  and  bringing  her  back, 
"name  not  the  presumptuous  varlet.  On  one  condition  I  will  tell 
thee,  even  though  it  ruin  me." 

"  What  may  that  be  ?"  inquired  the  girl. 

"  I  have  long  solicited  an  interview  where  we  should  not 
be  liable  to  interruption.  Grant  me  that,  and  I  will  conceal 
nothing." 

"  Thou  dost  grant  nothing  without  a  condition.  I  do  not 
know,"  she  added,  tossing  her  head,  "  whether  I  care  anything, 
after  all,  about  this  mystery.  I  dare  say  there  is  nothing  in  it, 
and,  as  you  say,  it  concerns  me  not." 

"  Be  not  angry,  sweet  Prudence.  Ask,  and  I  will  answer  all 
thy  questions." 

"  You  know,  too,  how  much  I  would  do  to  pleasure  you, 
sighed  Prudence.  "  Ah  I  me,  how  weak  a  thing  is  a  woman's 
heart." 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  297 

"  Then  you  will  not  deny  me  ?  Know  then  that  letters  have 
arrived  from  England,  charging  this  knight,  or  pretended  knight, 
with  diverse  grave  offences." 

"  And  what  may  they  be  ?"  inquired  the  girl. 

"  He  is  complained  of  as  a  fugitive  from  justice,"  answered 
Spikeman,  who  meant  to  communicate  no  more  information  than 
he  was  obliged  to. 

"  The  sweet,  handsome  gentleman  !  I  do  not  believe  he  ever 
harmed  any  one.  But  what  did  he  ?" 

^  Of  that  I  am  not  positively  informed,  not  having  seen  the 
epistles,  they  being  addressed  to  private  persons." 

"  Have  they  anything  against  Master  Miles,  too  ?"  asked  Pru 
dence. 

"  I  doubt  not  that  he  is  the  worse  of  the  two,  if  all  were 
known." 

"  These  be  dreadful  lies  about  the  nicest  and  properest  men  in 
the  country,"  cried  Prudence.  "  And  what  will  be  done  with 
them  when  they  come  back  ?" 

"  That  I  cannot  tell ;  but  be  sure  we  shall  find  some  means  of 
getting  rid  of  them.  And  now,  Prudence — " 

"I  do  not  know  that  I  made  any  promise,"  she  said,  archly; 
"  and  you  have  told  me  very  little,  after  all." 

"  I  have  told  thee  all  I  know.  Keep  now  equal  good  faith  with 
me." 

"  It  would  be  very  improper,"  said  the  girl,  turning  away  her 
face,  "  to  invite  a  man  to  a  secret  meeting ;  but  I  sometimes  wan 
der  on  the  edge  of  the  forest  to  gather  wild  flowers,  and  hear  the 
birds  sing,  and  if  you  should  come  thither  by  accident,  at  the 
same  time,  nobody,  I  suppose,  would  find  fault." 

"  But  when — but  when,  lovely  Prudence  I  Ah !  you  compre 
hend  not  the  longing  of  my  soul." 

"  That  I  cannot  say  now.  I  am  only  a  servant  girl,  and  must 
obey  the  directions  of  my  mistress,  which  are  often  very  unreason 
able,  and  order  not  my  time." 

13 


298  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN   MELICE. 

"  Would  I  were  a  king,  for  your  sake  !     But  shall  it  be  soon  "?" 

"  As  soon  as  may  be,  and  I  will  let  you  know  the  time  and 
place."  So  saying,  she  broke  away  from  the  enamored  Spike- 
man,  and  ran  to  acquaint  her  young  mistress  with  all  that  had 
happened. 

The  young  lady  felt  seriously  alarmed  at  the  communication 
of  her  confidante — an  alarm  increased  by  the  vagueness  of  the 
information,  as  in  a  dark  night  the  fearful  imagination  invests 
with  terrors  some  object,  which,  in  the  light  of  day,  proves  to  be 
a  harmless  bush  or  stump — and  the  two  young  women  consulted 
together  if  any  thing  could  be  done  to  avert  the  threatened  dan 
ger.  They  could  think  of  nothing  better  than  to  acquaint  Arun- 
del  with  it,  which  Prudence  took  upon  herself  to  do. 

"  But  how,"  inquired  Eveline,  "  is  it  to  be  done  ?" 

"  You  forget  Philip  Joy,  madam,"  said  Prudence. 

"  I  might  have  known  better  than  to  distrust  your  wiles  and 
stratagems,  you  cunning  girl,"  said  her  mistress;  "but  have  a 
care  of  thyself.  I  sometimes  feel  much  anxiety  on  thy  account — 
but  I  forbid  this  meeting  with  Master  Spikeman." 

"  An'  it  be  so,"  answered  the  waiting-maid,  pouting,  "  you 
may  find  some  one  else,  Mistress  Eveline,  to  tell  you  about  the 
plots  of  the  old  dragon,  who  has  us  in  his  claws." 

"  For  shame,  thou  petulant  thing !  yet  tell  me  now  all  thy 
design." 

"  You  tell  me  not  all  your  thoughts  about  Master  Miles,  and 
why  should  I  acquaint  you  with  mine  about  my  Joe  ?"  said  Pru 
dence,  bursting  into  a  laugh. 

"  There  is  some  difference,  methinks,  between  the  cases — have 
thy  way  though.  I  have  confidence  in  thee,  Prudence,  and  be 
lieve  thee  as  witty  as  pretty.  Thy  own  goodness  and  love  for 
the  soldier  Joy  shall  stand  by  thee  like  guardian  angels,  to  save 
from  harm.  Yet  like  I  not  this  tampering  with  anything  that 
looks  like  evil." 


THE   KNIGHT   OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  299 

The  girl  knelt  down  by  the  side  of  her  mistress,  and  taking  the 
young  lady's  hand,  laid  it  on  her  heart. 

';  Thou  feelest,"  she  said,  "  how  it  beats.  Dost  understand 
what  it  says  !" 

"  Methinks  it  repeats  only,  Philip,  Philip,  Philip,"  said  Eve 
line,  smiling. 

"  Where  one  fillip  belongs  to  him,  a  great  many  belong  to 
thee,"  answered  the  waiting-maid,  affectionately.  "  It  will  be 
time  enough  to  let  him  have  more  when  I  am  sure  all  his  are 
mine." 

The  young  lady  bent  down,  and,  throwing  her  arms  round  the 
maiden's  neck,  kissed  her  cheek. 

"  What  have  I  done  to  deserve  such  affection  ?"  she  murmured. 
"  O,  Prudence,  thou  art  a  treasure  to  me ;  but  be  cautious,  be 
cautious,  my  girl.  Not  for  all  the  blessings  which  thy  loving 
heart  would  heap  upon  me,  would  I  have  the  least  harm  befall 
thee." 

A  few  days  after,  as  the  summer,  sun  was  setting,  and  his  last 
rays  lighting  up  the  tops  of  the  trees  into  a  yellow  sheen,  and 
kindling  into  liquid  gold  the  placid  surface  of  Massachusetts  Bay, 
a  female  figure  was  to  be  seen  hovering  on  the  margin  of  the 
wood  in  that  neighborhood.  In  consequence  of  the  inequalities 
of  the  ground,  and  of  some  intervening  bushes  and  trees,  the  col 
lection  of  houses  that  lay  along  the  shore  of  the  bay  was  not 
visible  from  the  spot  where  she  was  walking,  nor  was  there  a 
path  to  indicate  that  it  was  a  place  of  any  resort.  It  seemed  to 
be  a  spot  well  adapted  to  privacy.  No  sound  was  to  be  heard, 
save  the  occasional  tap  of  a  woodpecker,  or  the  whirr  of  the 
wings  of  a  partridge,  as,  startled  by  the  approach  of  the  person, 
he  suddenly  rose  into  the  air,  or  the  songs  of  the  robins,  bidding 
farewell,  in  sweet  and  plaintive  notes,  to  the  disappearing  sun. 
The  female  walked  on,  stopping  now  and  then  to  gather  a  wild 
flower,  until  she  reached  a  spring  which  bubbled  at  the  foot  of 


300  THE  KNIGHT   OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICB. 

an  immense  beech  tree.  It  ran  a  rod  or  two  in  a  silvery  stream 
from  its  fountain,  and  then  leaping  down  a  miniature  fall  into  a 
sort  of  natural  basin,  surrounded  with  rocks,  expanded  itself  into 
a  small  pool,  as  clear  as  crystal.  Around  the  basin  were  gath 
ered  companies  of  such  wood-flowers  as  love  the  water,  conspicu 
ous  among  which,  both  for  number  and  beauty,  were  the  yellow 
and  orange  blossoms  of  the  elegant  "  jewels,"  as  boys  call  them. 
Advancing  to  this  little  mirror,  the  female  took  a  seat  on  one  of  the 
rocks,  on  the  edge  of  the  water,  and  bending  over,  appeared  to 
contemplate,  with  no  little  satisfaction,  what  she  beheld  there ; 
and  to  tell  the  truth,  it  was  a  pretty  face,  and  justified  some 
vanity.  Black  hair  and  hazle  eyes,  red  lips  and  blooming  cheeks, 
and  a  well-formed  person,  composed  a  whole  whereon  the  eye 
rested  with  pleasure.  Prudence,  (you  have  guessed  it  was  she,) 
after  looking  at  the  reflection  of  herself  awhile,  and  smoothing 
down  a  stray  tress  or  two,  selected  from  the  flowers  in  her  hand 
some  of  the  most  beautiful,  and  humming  a  tune,  commenced 
arranging  them  in  her  hair.  She  was  some  little  time  about  her 
toilette,  either  because  her  taste  was  difficult  to  be  suited,  or  be 
cause  her  employment  afforded  an  excuse  for  looking  at  what 
was  certainly  more  attractive  than  the  flowers  themselves.  She 
was  so  long  about  their  arrangement,  that  she  had  hardly  com 
pleted  it,  and  had  time  to  twist  her  neck  into  only  five  or  six 
attitudes,  to  see  how  they  became  her,  when  a  rustling  was  heard 
in  the  bushes,  and  immediately  the  Assistant  Spikeman  stood  by 
her  side. 

"  Verily,  sweet  maiden,"  he  said,  "  thine  eyes  outshine  the 
stars,  which  will  soon  twinkle  in  the  sky,  and  the  flowers  around 
thee  pine  with  envy  at  beholding  a  blush  lovelier  than  their  own." 

A  sudden  and  unpleasant  interruption  put  a  stop  to  the  fine 
speeches  of  the  debauched  hypocrite,  for  he  had  hardly  concluded 
the  sentence,  when,  without  a  warning,  a  strong  hand  grasped  his 
throat,  and  he  was  hurled  with  irresistible  violence  to  the  ground. 


THE   KXIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  SOI 

As  the  Assistant  was  lying  prostrate  on  his  face,  he  could  hear 
Prudence,  with  screams,  each  fainter  than  the  former,  running  in 
the  direction  of  the  settlement,  while,  without  a  word  being  spo 
ken,  his  arms  were  violently  forced  upon  his  back  and  bound,  an 
operation  which  his  struggles  were  unable  to  prevent.  This  be 
ing  performed,  he  was  suffered  to  rise,  and,  upon  gaming  his  feet, 
he  saw  himself  in  the  presence  of  Sassacus.  The  blood  fled  the 
cheeks  and  lips  of  Spikeman  as  he  beheld  the  savage,  and  felt 
that  he  was  in  the  hands  of  one  whom,  without  cause,  he  had 
injured,  and  who  belonged  to  that  wild  race,  with  whom  revenge 
is  a  duty  as  well  as  a  pleasure.  His  knees  trembled,  and  he  was 
in  danger  of  falling  to  the  ground,  as  the  thought  of  death,  whereof 
horrid  torments  should  be  the  precursors,  flashed  through  his 
mind.  But  the  trepidation  was  only  momentary,  and  soon,  with 
the  hardihood  of  his  audacious  nature,  he  steeled  himself  to  dare 
whatever  should  follow — and  it  marks  the  character  of  the  man, 
that  the  bitterness  of  the  moment  was  aggravated  at  the  thought 
of  the  vanishing  of  the  fond  dreams  with  which  he  had  idly  fed 
his  imagination. 

His  captor  called  out  in  his  own  language,  and  presently 
another  Indian  came  running  up.  A  few  words  passed  between 
them,  when  the  latter  stepping  forward,  Sassacus  made  a  motion 
to  Spikeman  to  follow,  placing  himself  at  the  same  time  in  the 
rear.  Resistance  would  have  been  unavailing,  and  could  serve 
110  other  purpose  than  to  rouse  the  passions  of  the  Indians,  and 
invite  immediate  injury.  Something  might  yet  happen  to  his 
advantage.  He  might  be  rescued,  or  effect  his  escape,  or  the 
chapter  of  accidents  might  have  something  else  favorable,  he 
knew  not  what,  in  store.  The  Assistant,  therefore,  quietly  sub 
mitted,  and  followed  as  ordered. 

Their  course  lay  directly  through  the  densest  portions  of  the 
forest,  and  as  the  rapidity  of  their  progress  was  impeded  by  the 
constrained  position  of  the  captive's  arms,  Sassacus,  as  if  in  con- 


302  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

tempt  of  any  effort  to  escape,  cut  the  ligatures  with  the  knife 
that  hung  at  his  neck,  intimating  the  motive  at  the  same  time  by 
an  acceleration  of  speed.  As  Spikeman  was  thus  hurried  along, 
his  thoughts  went  after  Prudence,  and  he  wondered  what  had 
become  of  her.  Notwithstanding  his  own  peril,  he  felt  (and  it 
proves  the  deep  interest  he  cherished  for  the  girl)  a  melancholy 
pleasure  in  the  hope  that  she  had  escaped,  not  that  even  though 
she  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  savages,  he  would  have  en 
tertained  fears  for  her  life,  but  she  might  have  been  doomed  to  a 
hopeless  captivity,  far  away  from  friends,  whom  she  was  never  to 
see  again,  and  condemned,  in  some  distant  wigwam,  to  exchange 
the  comforts  of  civilization  for  a  wild  life,  which,  to  her,  could 
•bring  only  wretchedness.  Bad  as  was  Spikeman.  and  lamentable 
as  might  be  his  infatuation  for  the  girl,  there  was  even  in  that, 
something  which  redeemed  it  from  being  utter  evil. 

Daylight  had  now  faded  entirely  away,  but  the  Indians  abated 
not  their  speed,  and  pursued  their  course  in  a  straight  line,  as 
though  guided  by  an  infallible  instinct.  In  this  manner  they 
proceeded  for  nearly  two  hours,  and,  at  the  expiration  of  the 
time,  arrived  at  a  collection  of  three  or  four  lodges  of  the  rudest 
structure.  Several  of  the  natives  were  lying  on  the  ground, 
smoking  their  pipes,  but  they  took  no  other  notice  of  the  new 
comers  than  looking  at  them  as  they  came  up.  Sassacus  led 
the  way  into  the  largest  wigwam,  and,  having  directed  his  prisoner 
to  sit  down,  left  the  cabin. 

Spikeman  knew  well  enough  that,  with  all  this  seeming  inat 
tention,  he  was  vigilantly  watched,  yet  could  he  not  forbear  from 
walking  to  the  entrance,  looking  around  at  the  same  time,  if,  by 
chance,  he  might  espy  a  weapon.  He  saw  none,  however,  and 
two  stout  Indians  made  motions  to  him  to  return.  Meditating 
on  his  situation,  and  casting  about  in  his  mind  for  expedients, 
either  to  evade  his  captors  or  to  change  the  resolution  of  the  Pe- 
quot  chief,  which,  he  doubted  not,  aimed  at  his  life,  he  resumed 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  303 

his  seat.  He  was  unable  to  remain  more  than  a  few  moments 
in  quiet,  and  presently  again  approached  the  opening,  and  this 
time  beheld  a  sight  which  curdled  his  blood. 

It  was  a  stake  driven  into  the  ground,  at  a  distance  of  not 
more  than  a  rod  from  where  he  stood,  around  which  several  In 
dians  were  heaping  up  faggots  of  dry  sticks  and  broken  branches. 
Spikeman  shuddered,  and  tasted,  in  almost  as  lively  a  manner  as 
if  he  were  already  experiencing  them,  the  agonies  that  awaited 
him,  for  he  could  not  doubt  that  the  preparations  were  made  on 
his  account.  The  conduct  of  his  keepers,  therefore,  was  unneces 
sary,  who  pointed  first  to  the  pile,  and  then  to  himself,  intimating 
thereby  that  one  was  designed  for  the  other.  The  effect  pro 
duced  on  him  was  such  that  he  could  hardly  restrain  himself 
from  attempting  to  burst  through  his  guards,  either  by  some  mir 
acle  to  get  free,  or  to  obtain  an  easier  death  from  the  tomahawk 
or  arrow.  But  in  all  the  horrors  of  these  dreadful  moments,  the 
mind  of  Spikeman  remained  as  clear  as  ever,  and  he  saw  plainly 
the  impossibility  of  evasion,  and  the  folly  of  supposing  that  the 
Indians  would  be  tempted  to  throw  a  tomahawk,  or  discharge  an 
arrow  against  an  unarmed  man,  whereby  they  might  rob  them 
selves  of  the  fiendish  pleasure  they  anticipated — besides,  thought 
the  miserable  Spikeman,  I  should  be  more  likely  to  receive  the 
stroke  of  death  when  their  passions  are  excited,  than  at  present ; 
and  with  a  desperate  calmness,  and  striving  to  defy  the  worst,  he 
awaited  what  should  happen. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 


These  the  sole  accents  from  his  tongue  that  fell, 
But  volumes  lurked  below  that  fierce  farewell. 


BYROIT. 


WHEN  Sassacus  left  Spikeman,  it  was  only  to  step  into  a  lodge 
not  half  a  dozen  rods  distant.  Though  smaller  than  the  one  into 
which  the  prisoner  had  been  introduced,  it  was  superior  in  com 
fort,  as  was,  indeed,  to  be  expected,  being  that  of  the  Sagamore 
himself.  Here  he  found  the  soldier,  Philip  Joy. 

"  What  means  this,  Sassacus  f  exclaimed  the  soldier,  as  the 
Pequot  entered.  "Was  it  not  our  covenant  that  the  life  of  the 
white  man  should  be  spared?" 

"  My  brother  did  not  mean  what  he  said  when  he  asked  that 
his  enemy  might  be  permitted  to  run  away.  Who,  when  he 
catches  a  wolf,  says,  'Wolf,  Indian  set  the  trap  only  to  see 
whether  it  would  hold  fast  your  legs.  The  wise  hunter  talks 
not  so,  but  strikes  the  wolf  on  the  head.'  " 

"  Sassacus,"  said  Joy,  "  this  may  not  be.  If  you  had  caught 
Master  Spikeman,  by  your  own  cunning,  it  might  have  been  dif" 
ferent ;  but  it  was  the  while  girl  and  I  who  devised  the  scheme, 
and  I  told  you  where  to  place  the  ambuscade,  which  has  been 
successful.  Were  you  to  murder  this  man,  the  guilt  would  rest 
more  on  Prudence  and  me  than  on  you,  whose  savage  and  un- 
Christian  notions  may  partly  excuse  so  dreadful  an  act." 

13* 


306  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE. 

"  My  brother's  heart  is  soft,  like  moss,  but  the  heart  of  Sassacus 
is  a  stone.  My  brother  must  learn  to  harden  his  heart,  and  he 
shall  soon  behold  a  punishment  becoming  a  great  Sagamore.  My 
brother  thinks  and  feels  like  a  Christian.  Good !  but  he  must 
let  Sassacus  feel  like  an  Indian." 

"  Let  him  go,"  said  Joy,  "  and  he  shall  pay  you  store  of  wam- 
pompeag  and  colored  cloth.  Of  what  use  can  it  be  to  you  to 
put  him  to  a  horrid  death  1" 

"  Wampompeag  and  colored  cloth  are  good,  but  Sassacus  is  a 
great  chief,  and  they  cannot  make  him  forget  an  injury.  Before 
the  white  men  came,  his  ancestors  punished  and  rewarded,  and 
he  will  not  surrender  the  prerogative  of  his  family." 

"  By  the  bones  of  my  father,"  swore  the  soldier,  "  I  will  not 
permit  this  cold-blooded  murder.  Hated  I  him  ten-fold  more 
than  I  do,  I  would  defend  his  life  at  the  hazard  of  my  own. 
Where  is  my  gun?"  he  demanded  fiercely,  seeking  after  it. 
"Who  has  dared  to  remove  it  ?" 

"  Sassacus  took  it  away,  that  his  brother  might  do  no  mischief 
with  it,"  said  the  Pequot. 

"  False  Indian  !"  exclaimed  the  soldier,  passionately ;  "  call 
me  not  again  your  brother.  I  will  have  nothing  to  do  with  one 
whose  promises  cannot  bind,  and  who  loves  revenge  more  than 
honor." 

"  Sassacus  never  breaks  his  word,  but,  if  he  did,  it  would  be 
only  imitating  the  white  men.  Would  my  brother  speak  to  my 
prisoner,  whom,  at  this  moment,  he  loves  more  than  the  justice 
of  an  Indian  ?" 

"  Why  should  I  speak  to  him,  when  I  should  hear  only 
curses  ?" 

"  Then  remain  here  to  behold  the  punishment  of  the  bad  white 
man." 

He  strode  out  of  the  lodge,  while  the  soldier,  burning  with 
indignation,  disposed  himself  so  that,  unseen,  he  might  notice  all 


THE    KNIGHT   OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  307 

that  was  done,  and  determined,  unarmed   as  he   was,  to  inter 
pose. 

Presently  Sassacus  re-appeared,  emerging  from  the  larger  lodge, 
followed  bj  the  Assistant,  whose  arms  were  bound  again,  and 
who  was  conducted  by  two  savages,  holding  him  by  either  arm. 
They  led  him  straight  to  the  pile  around  the  stake,  which  the 
Chief  ordered  to  be  lighted,  and  whose  billowy  flames  were  kept 
rolling  up  by  additions,  from  time  to  time,  of  the  dry  wood  which 
lay  in  abundance  around.  Seated  on  a  log  not  far  from  the  fire, 
whose  heat  might  indeed  be  felt,  Sassacus  commanded  his  prisoner 
to  be  brought  before  him. 

"  Bad  white  man,"  he  said,  "  look  on  yon  flames  !  Are  they  like 
that  hell  which  thy  powaws  say  is  prepared  for  such  as  thouf 

Spikeman  turned  his  ghastly  face  away  from  the  blaze,  with  a 
shudder,  but  he  said  nothing. 

"  The  white  man  is  silent,"  said  Sassacus.  "  He  acknowledges 
the  justice  of  his  doom.  Lead  him  to  the  fire." 

Spikeman,  notwithstanding  the  horror  of  his  situation,  suc 
ceeded  in  a  measure  in  concealing  his  feelings,  and,  affecting  an 
indifference  to  his  fate,  advanced  a  few  steps  with  the  two  In 
dians,  who  held  his  arms,  when,  suddenly  making  a  violent 
effort,  he  burst  the  withes  with  which  he  was  carelessly  bound, 
and,  throwing  them  both  off,  started  to  run.  The  oppor 
tunity  had  probably  been  given  purposely  by  the  savages,  for 
their  diversion,  and  in  order  to  protract  the  terrors  of  the  cap 
tive,  and  knowing  that  flight  was  impossible.  But,  blinded  by 
the  glare  of  the  fire,  Spikeman  remarked  not  a  trunk  of  a  tree  in 
his  path,  and,  stumbling  over  it,  fell  to  the  ground,  bruised  and 
torn,  and  before  he  could  rise,  found  himself  again  held  fast.  Curs 
ing  his  ill  luck,  he  made  no  further  resistance,  but  sullenly  suffered 
himself  to  be  led  back.  Philip  Joy,  on  seeing  Spikeman  break 
away,  started  from  his  place  of  concealment ;  so  that  the  two 
were  confronted  on  the  latter's  return.  The  sight  of  Philip 


308  THE   KNIGHT   OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE. 

awoke  a  hope  in  Spikeman's  bosom,  who  begged  him  to  intercede 
with  the  savage. 

"  I  have  done  so  already,"  answered  Philip  ;  "but  he  will  not 
listen  to  me,  and  has  deprived  me  of  my  arms." 

"  Speak  to  him  again — he  will  regard  what  you  say.  Save 
my  life,  and  I  will  make  recompense  a  thousandfold  for  any 
wrong  I  have  done  you  or  him." 

The  Pequot,  smiling,  stood  by,  quietly  listening  to  the  colloquy, 
and  before  Philip  could  address  him,  said : 

"  Did  Sassacus  promise  his  white  brother  to  let  the  dog 
(pointing  to  Spikeman)  run  away?" 

"  You  did ;  but  care  no  more  for  your  word  than  if  you  were 
no  chief." 

"  My  brother's,  is  a  pappobs  speech.  Sassacus  never  broke  his 
word ;  he  only  tried  whether  the  dog  was  as  brave  as  he  was 
bad.  White  man,"  he  added,  turning  to  the  Assistant,  "  thou  art 
free.  A  great  chief  disdains  to  give  thee  the  death  of  a  warrior. 
Go  back  to  thy  people,  and  tell  them  what  return  the  Sagamore 
of  the  Pequots  makes  for  thy  breach  of  hospitality.  His  promise 
to  his  brother  saves  thy  life  this  time.  But,  beware !  A  Saga 
more  does  not  forget.  Be  a  snail  that  keeps  its  head  within  its 
shell.  If  the  snail  puts  it  out,  Sassacus  will  step  upon  it. 
Depart." 

He  gave  directions  to  a  couple  of  his  sanops  to  conduct  the  As 
sistant  to  the  verge  of  the  forest,  and,  turning  away,  walked  to 
his  lodge.  He  was  followed  by  Philip,  who  had  now  recovered 
from  his  amazement,  and,  understanding  the  conduct  of  the  chief, 
felt  ashamed  at  his  own  want  of  discernment  and  distrust. 

"  Is  my  brother  satisfied?"  inquired  the  Pequot. 

"  Sagamore,"  answered  Philip,  "  I  wronged  thee.  It  shall  be 
a  lesson  to  make  me  more  cautious  in  judging  of  thy  actions." 

"  It  is  well.  My  .brother  will  hereafter  remember  that  the 
thoughts  of  a  chief  do  not  always  shine  in  his  face  or  sound  in 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.      309 

his  words.  My  brother  will  forgive  me,"  he  added,  smiling,  "  for 
shutting  his  eyes  a  little  while  very  tight.  It  was  that  my  bro 
ther  might  be  the  more  pleased  when  he  opened  them." 

"  A  trusty  friend"  this  Indian,  after  all,  in  his  way,  (thought 
Philip,  as  he  gazed  on  the  face  of  the  Pequot,  which  had  set 
tled  into  its  usual  gravity),  and  loves  a  jest,  too.  Who  would 
have  thought  it?  Methinks  he  has  the  better  of  it  with  Master 
Spikeman,  though  I  misdoubt  if  he  considers  the  score  as 
settled." 

As  for  the  Assistant,  thus  suddenly  and  unexpectedly  re 
prieved  from  a  shocking  death  that  seemed  certain,  he  was  stu- 
pified  at  the  abrupt  change  in  his  circumstances,  and,  as  he 
hurried  on,  half  doubted  whether  it  were  not  a  dream.  As  he 
threaded  the  intricacies  of  the  wood;  he  had  time  to  compare  and 
weigh  events,  and  was  thus  enabled  to  come  to  some  sort  of  con 
clusion.  He  recollected  now  many  little  things  in  the  conduct 
of  Prudence,  which  would  have  opened  the  eyes  of  any  one  not 
blinded  by  an  absurd  passion,  and  saw  how,  while  seeming  not 
averse  to  his  pursuit,  she  had,  in  fact,  only  tempted  on  from  one 
folly  to  another,  until  his  whole  being  lay  disclosed  to  her,  with 
out  herself  making  any  corresponding  return.  He  doubted  not 
that  she  had  been  all  the  time  in  correspondence  with  Joy,  and 
with  him  had  concerted  the  plan  whereby  he  had  been  betrayed 
into  the  hands  of  the  savage,  to  be  outraged  and  mocked,  and 
made  to  suffer  all  but  the  bitterness  of  death.  He  gnashed  his 
teeth  with  rage  as  these  reflections  stormed  through  his  mind, 
and,  far  from  being  grateful  for  his  deliverance,  resolved  to  exert 
the  whole  force  and  subtlety  of  which  he  was  capable,  to  revenge 
himself  on  his  tormentors.  The  fire  of  his  indignation  burnt  not 
so  fiercely  against  the  Pequot,  yet  he,  too,  was  embraced  in  the 
schemes  for  vengeance,  for  Spikeman  fully  comprehended,  from 
his  parting  words,  that  the  enmity  betwixt  them  could  be  satis 
fied  only  by  the  destruction  of  one  or  both.  Turning  all  these 


310  THE   KNIGHT   OF  THE    GOLDEN  MELICE. 

things  over  in  his  mind,  he  quickly  formed  a  plan,  which  he 
determined  to  put  as  soon  as  possible  into  execution. 

The  dawn  broke  before  his  guides  left  the  Assistant ;  but  it 
was  too  early  to  venture  to  return  home,  instead  of  which, 
he  sought  his  store-house,  and  there  passed,  meantime,  awhile, 
brooding  over  schemes  of  revenge.  Of  himself  he  was  pow 
erless;  it  was  therefore  necessary  to  set  other  forces  at  work, 
and,  in  the  letters  which  had  been  received  reflecting  on  the 
character  of  the  Knight,  he  thought  he  saw  the  means  of  driving, 
not  only  him,  but  Arundel  also,  out  of  the  colony  ;  and  they  be 
ing  once  removed,  he  trusted  to  his  ingenuity  to  rid  himself  of  the 
simple  soldier  and  the  Indian.  The  political  power  of  the  colony, 
in  short,  was  to  be  compelled  to  effect  his  private  designs.  This, 
in  the  condition  of  the  little  State,  was  no  difficult  enterprise.  Tn 
a  strange  land,  hemmed  in  by  savages,  whose  power  they  were 
unable  to  estimate  with  any  degree  of  certainty,  and  who,  how 
ever  contemptible  singly,  were  formidable  by  reason  of  their 
number — upon  whose  friendship  they  could  never  securely  rely — 
on  the  eve  of  a  war,  probably,  with  the  Taranteens — distrustful 
of  even  some  of  their  own  people,  who  murmured  at  the  severity 
of  the  discipline  they  were  subjected  to — the  government  felt  that 
they  had  need  of  all  the  eyes  of  Argus,  and  of  as  many  ears,  to 
guard  against  the  dangers  by  which  they  were  beset.  They  were 
like,  in  one  respect,  to  the  timorous  rabbit,  snuffing  the  faintest 
hint  of  danger  in  the  breeze ;  but  unlike  him  in  that,  they  sought 
safety,  not  in  avoiding,  but  in  anticipating  and  confronting 
danger. 

"  Dear  life !"  cried  Dame  Spikeman,  as  the  haggard  face  of  her 
husband  presented  itself  in  the  morning,  "where  hast  thou  been 
all  the  night  ?  You  look  mightily  cast  down,  and — O  Lord ! 
Heaven  forgive  me ! — you  have  a  wound  on  the  side  of  your 
head.  Husband,  what  is  the  matter  ?" 

"  Why,  dame,"  answered  the  Assistant,  "is  it  a  new  thing  for 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  311 

me  to  be  absent  one  night  ?  Bethink  thee  how  often  my  occa 
sions  call  me  to  the  plantation  ?" 

"  Out  upon  the  weariful  plantation  !  O,  sweatheart !"  said 
the  jealous  but  fond  wife,  "  I  like  not  these  absences.  But,  how 
got  you  this  hurt  ?"  she  inquired,  parting  his  hair  on  the  temple, 
and  exposing  tire  dried  blood. 

"  It  is  only  a  scratch  I  received  in  the  forest,  and  hardly  worthy 
thy  notice,  dame.  But  where  is  Mistress  Eveline  ?  and  I  see  not 
Prudence  ?" 

"  The  young  lady  is  still  in  her  chamber,  and,  as  for  the  wait 
ing  maid,  I  heard  her  but  five  minutes  since  singing  away  as  if 
there  were  no  music  in  the  world  but  her  own.  Truly,  it 
sounded  more  like  a  snatch  from  some  profane  ballad  than  a  godly 
hymn.  I  will  tutor  her  about  this  levity.  Now  do  not  be  angry, 
dear  life,"  added  the  dame,  whose  heart  was  made  more  tender, 
and  her  tongue  more  communicative,  by  the  anxieties  she  had 
suffered  during  the  night,  on  her  husband's  account  ;  "but  I 
have  fancied  that  you  looked  at  the  girl  oftener,  sometimes,  than 
was  becoming  in  a  man  who  had  a  wedded  wife  who  never  said 
him  nay." 

"Fie,  Dame,"  said  the  Assistant,  laughing,  and  pinching,  and 
kissing  her  still  tempting  cheek  ;  "  what  crazy  fancies  be  these  ? 
Consider  my  years,  and  profession,  and  dignity,  and,  most  of  all, 
my  love  for  thee.  Why,  this  is  very  midsummer  madness." 

"I  suppose  I  am  foolish,"  replied  the  dame,  wiping  a  tear 
away,  "  but  I  feared,  lest  the  girl  might  derive  some  encourage 
ment  from  it,  though  otherwise,  Prudence  is  a  good  lass,  arid  obe 
dient,  and  I  have  no  other  fault  to  find  with  her;  but  I  recollect 
now,  when  I  was  a  girl,  how  I  did  feel  when  you  came  near  me, 
and  I  have  not  got  over  all  these  feelings  yet,  nor  do  I  choose 
that  Prudence  should  have  them.  So,  dear  husband,  it  were  safer 
for  the  girl  that  you  should  look  oftener  at  me,  and  less  at  her." 

"  My  good,  and  faithful,  and  loving  wife  !"  exclaimed  the  As- 


312  THE   KNIGHT   OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

sistant,  enclosing  her  in  his  arms,  and  feeling  something  like  com 
punction  at  the  moment,  "  you  deserve  a  better  mate.  But 
trouble  not  thyself  with  such  misgivings.  Do  not  this  wrong, 
sweet,  to  thine  own  charms,  and  to  my  profession  and  station,  as 
one  of  the  congregation  and  a  magistrate." 

"  Nay,"  answered  the  pleased  wife,  "  I  distrusted  thee  not  so 
much  as  the  presumption  of  the  damsel ;  and  if  the  devil  goes 
about  as  a  roaring  lion,  seeking  whom  he  may  devour,  as  we 
know  he  does,  from  the  precious  book,  what  place  is  more  likely 
for  him  to  be  in  than  these  awful  woods,  filled  with  red  heathens, 
whom  I  take  to  be  little  better  than  his  children  ;  and  whom 
.  would  he  sooner  devour,  than  a  pretty  maiden  like  Prudence  1" 

''Enough  of  this,  dame,"  said  the  Assistant,  with  difficulty 
suppressing  a  smile  at  his  help-meet's  simplicity.  "  Bethink  thee, 
that  though  thy  loving  words  are  a  feast  to  the  spirit,  the  body 
requires  more  substantial  fare  ?" 

"  True,  and  you  shall  have  it  forthwith,  although,  you  wicked 
man,  I  did  sleep  hardly  a  wink  for  thinking  of  thee."  So  saying, 
the  dame  hurried  off  to  hasten  the  morning  meal. 

The  Assistant  watched  the  countenances  of  Eveline  and  her 
attendant  that  morning  at  breakfast,  and,  in  spite  of  the  efforts 
of  the  former  to  appear  unconstrained,  and  the  demureness  of  the 
latter,  detected,  he  thought,  sufficient  to  justify  his  suspicions. 
He  doubted  not  that  the  girl  had  betrayed  his  weakness  to  her 
young  mistress,  and  that  all  along  he  had  been  a  laughing-stock 
for  both.  "  I  will  teach  them,"  he  said  to  himself,  as  he  reflected 
with  bitterness  on  his  failure,  "  how  to  offend  one  who  has  the 
power  and  the  will  to  crush  them.  The  banishment  of  her  min 
ion,  who,  a  love-sick  swain,  has  followed  her  across  the  sea, 
only  to  be  sent  back  a  disappointed  fool,  will  answer  for  my 
young  lady ;  and  as  for  the  girl,  the  slitting  of  Joy's  ears  and 
nose,  and  an  acquaintance  of  her  own  pretty  feet  with  the  stocks, 
will  suffice.  It  shall  not  be  said  that  the  sword  of  the  magistrate 
was  put  into  my  hands  in  vain." 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.  3 13 

While  the  Assistant  was  busying  his  brain  with  machinations 
like  these,  the  opportune  arrival  of  another  ship  from  London,  with 
letters  to  himself,  containing  accusations  against  Sir  Christopher 
Gardiner,  filled  his  heart  with  joy,  and  furnished  additional  means 
to  facilitate  his  purpose.  Without  delay,  he  took  them  to  Win- 
throp,  and  demanded  a  private  audience.  After  reading  the  let 
ters  received  by  Spikeman,  the  Governor  opened  his  desk,  and 
handed  to  his  councillor  others  addressed  to  himself,  and  which 
had  arrived  by  the  same  opportunity.  Greedily  did  the  Assistant 
devour  their  contents,  and  unbounded,  though  concealed,  was  his 
joy  at  finding  them  in  one  particular  of  the  same  purport  as  his 
own.  His  face,  however,  was  sad,  and  his  voice  mournful,  as, 
returning  the  epistles,  he  said — 

"  A  grievous  thing  is  it,  that  hypocrisy,  so  finished,  should  walk 
the  earth.  It  is  a  day  of  rebuke  and  of  scandal  to  us,  as  magis 
trates,  that  we  should  be  so  deceived." 

"•  I  am  not  altogether  convinced,"  said  Winthrop,  who,  steady 
in  his  friendships,  and  prepossessed  from  the  beginning  in  favor 
of  the  Knight,  was  loth  to  think  evil  of  him,  "  that  these  charges 
are  true.  My  own  letters  mention  them  only  as  reports — thine 
speak  of  them  more  positively.  Vouch  you  for  the  truth  of  your 
correspondent  ?" 

"  There  is  no  man  more  truthful,"  answered  Spikeman,  who, 
had  it  been  necessary,  would  have  been  a  guaranty  for  Beelzebub 
himself.  "  I  have  known  him  long.  He  has  never  deceived  me, 
nor  can  I  imagine  motive  therefor  now." 

"So  fair,  and  yet  so  false!"  murmured  Winthrop;  "and  yet 
we  know  that  the  evil  one  appears  sometimes  as  an  angel  of  light. 
I  will  not  trust  in  human  appearance  more.  What  shall  be  done 
with  him  on  his  return  ?" 

"  Let  him  be  sent  out  of  the  colony,  and  they  who  are  leagued 
in  his  plots  with  him,"  said  Spikeman.  "  I  understand  now  the 
wonderful  eagerness  of  Master  Arundel  to  be  joined  with  him  in 


314  THE    KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE. 

this  embassy.  Birds  of  a  feather,  says  the  proverb,  do  fly  with 
greatest  joy  together.  Out  upon  this  false  Knight,  for  his  pre 
tended  love  of  retirement ;  upon  his  leman,  this  lady  Geraldine, 
forsooth  ;  and  this  squire  of  dames,  Master  Miles  Arundel,  whose 
counterfeited  affection  for  my  ward  may  be  only  another  cloak 
for  most  pernicious  plots." 

"  Thou  art  becoming  suspicious  of  all  the  world,  Master  Spike- 
man,"  said  Winthrop,  smiling. 

"  And  is  it  not  time  to  be  suspicious,  when  those  who  have 
been  honored  with  the  confidence  of  our  government,  and  to 
whom  we  have  entrusted  an  important  matter,  are  discovered  to 
be  no  better  than  landlaufers  and  conspirators "?" 
¥<•  "  Dost  distrust  the  good  faith  of  the  Knight  in  his  embassy  ?" 
inquired  the  Governor, 

"  A  bitter  fountain  cannot  send  forth  sweet  water,  and  should 
even  the  undertaking  of  this  false  Knight  be  successful  in  appear 
ance,  would  not  my  suspicion  be  quieted." 

"  Come,  Master  Spikeman,  remember  that  you  may  be  called 
to  sit  as  a  judge  on  the  fate  of  this  gentleman,  and  that  it  becomes 
men  in  our  positions  to  keep  the  mind  free  from  injurious  pre 
possessions,  for  only  thus  may  justice,  which  is  a  ray  from  the 
effulgent  countenance  of  Him  who  sits  on  the  circle  of  the  hea 
vens,  be  attained." 

"  This  is  no  private  matter  of  mine  own,"  answered  the  As 
sistant,  "  but  a  thing  of  public  concernment ;  and  I  humbly  trust, 
should  ever  my  voice  be  demanded  in  its  decision,  that  it  will  be 
raised  to  the  glory  of  God,  and  the  advancement  of  the  interests 
of  the  colony  which  he  has  planted.  But  I  should  consider 
myself  derelict  to  duty,  and  unworthy  of  the  trust  committed  to 
me,  were  I  to  hold  back  my  honest  judgment,  in  view  of  the  evi 
dence  now  before  me,  subject  to  such  modification  as  further  ex 
amination  may  give  rise  to,  especially  when  that  judgment  is 
asked  for  by  the  honored  head  of  our  oppressed  Israel." 


THE   KNIGHT   OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  315 

"  It  is  mj  purpose,"  said  Winthrop,  rising,  wherein  he  was 
imitated  by  the  other,  "  to  call  together,  this  evening,  at  this 
place,  for  the  due  consideration  of  this  subject,  such  of  the  As 
sistants  as  may  be  here  present  in  Boston,  and  to  advise  with 
them  thereupon,  when  and  where  I  shall  hope  to  be  favored  with 
the  presence  and  counsel  of  my  friend,  whose  zeal  is  never  slack 
in  aught  that  may  redound  to  the  welfare  of  the  Commonwealth." 

u  My  presence,  God  willing,  may  be  depended  on,  worshipful 
sir,"  answered  Spikeman. 

A  meeting  of  the  Assistants  was  accordingly  held  at  the  house 
of  the  Governor  the  same  evening,  and  the  subject  of  the  letters 
received  from  England,  and  the  course  to  be  pursued  in  view  of 
their  contents,  considered  in  all  their  aspects.  No  great  diversity 
of  opinion  prevailed  in  respect  to  the  necessity  of  caution,  in  re 
posing  any  further  confidence  in  Sir  Christopher ;  but  as  for  the 
proceedings  to  be  adopted  on  his  return,  there  was  a  considerable 
difference  of  sentiment.  The  more  moderate,  and  least  preju 
diced  against  the  Knight,  at  the  head  of  whom  was  Winthrop, 
advised  that  he  should  be  received  with  all  honor,  and  the 
charges  laid  privately  before  him,  in  the  first  instance,  and  an 
opportunity  afforded  him  to  refute  them.  This  they  urged  was 
the  more  just  and  honorable  mode,  inasmuch  as  the  accusations 
came  not  before  them  invested  with  any  judicial  authority.  But 
an  opposite  party,  headed  by  Spikeman,  strenuously  insisted  on 
another  course.  They  contended,  that  in  a  matter  of  the  kind, 
severity,  and  even  what  might  look  like  precipitation,  was  better 
than  a  slackness,  which  might  defeat  their  object.  They  pressed 
the  point,  that  such  was  the  number  of  letters  received  (some  of 
them  by  private  persons)  reflecting  on  the  character  of  Sir  Chris 
topher,  it  was  impossible  the  information  they  contained  should  be 
concealed  from  the  public,  and  that,  consequently,  even  before 
the  return  of  the  Knight,  news  of  it  would  reach  his  house. 
This,  they  said,  would  put  the  false  Lady  Geraldine  on  her 


316      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

guard,  and  afford  opportunity  to  destroy  papers,  or  whatever 
else  might  be  in  existence  to  inculpate  the  Knight.  It  was,  there 
fore,  their  opinion,  that  the  lady,  with  whatever  might  be  found 
in  the  house  to  assist  their  judgment,  should  be  instantly  seized, 
and  such  other  measures  taken  as  to  insure  the  arrest  of  Sir 
Christopher.  There  was,  however,  too  much  nobleness  of  feel 
ing  in  a  majority  of  the  Council  to  relish  invading  the  privacy 
of  a  female,  on  mere  suspicion,  while  her  protector  was  absent, 
engaged  in  business  of  the  State.  Winthrop  looked  displeased  at 
the  suggestion,  and  even  the  brow  of  the  rough  Dudley  was  cor 
rugated  into  a  haughty  frown.  As  usually  happens  between 
differing  opinions,  a  half  measure  was  resolved  upon,  which  satis 
fied  neither  party.  It  was  to  keep  so  strict  a  watch,  that  the 
moment  of  Sir  Christopher's  return  should  be  known,  and  a  file 
of  armed  men  despatched  by  night,  who  should  serve  partly  as  a 
guard  of  honor,  and  partly  as  a  restraint  upon  the  person,  to 
escort  him  to  Boston.  At  the  same  time,  with  apologies  for  its 
necessity,  his  books  and  papers  were  to  be  secured,  and  the  lady 
brought  in  all  honor  with  him.  This  was  the  plan,  should  the 
Knight  visit  his  house  before  coming  to  Boston  ;  but  if  he  arrived 
at  the  settlement  first,  he  was  to  be  detained  and  examined,  after 
an  account  of  his  mission  had  been  received. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

"  The  flying  rumors  gathered  as  they  rolled  ; 
Scarce  any  tale  was  sooner  heard  than  told  ; 
And  all  who  told  It  added  something  new, 
And  all  who  heard  it  made  enlargement  too ; — 
In  every  ear  it  spread — on  every  tongue  it  grew." 

POPE'S  "  Temple  of  Fame." 

IGNORANT,  of  course,  of  the  events  which  had  occurred  during 
his  absence,  the  Knight  started  from  the  Indian  village  in  high 
spirits,  as  it  appeared  to  Arundel,  at  the  success  of  his  embassy. 

"  These  savages  are  more  placable  than  I  anticipated,"  said 
Sir  Christopher,  "  for  it  must  be  admitted  that,  in  appearance  at 
least,  they  have  cause  for  grievous  resentment.  One  might 
almost  suspect  that,  since  their  late  defiance,  a  suspicion  of  the 
truth  had  somehow  penetrated  their  untutored  minds.  At  any 
rate,  no  war-whoop  will  be  heard  for  the  present,  and  we  have 
been  received  and  treated  with  all  courtesy." 

"  A  gentler  race  of  wild  chivalry,"  said  the  young  man,  "  doth 
surely  nowhere  exist.  Their  free  and  careless  lives  make  me 
more  than  ever  in  love  with  nature,  and  long  shall  I  remember 
the  noble  Taranteens  with  pleasure." 

" Admired  you  them  enough  to  cast  in  your  lot  with  them," 
said  the  Knight,  with  a  smile,  "  I  doubt  not  that  you  might 
become  a  king  over  regions  as  extensive  as  those  which  owe  alle 
giance  to  the  sceptre  of  our  gracious  monarch,  Charles." 


318  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

"  My  admiration  soars  not  to  that  height ;  yet,  to  my  ima 
gination,  is  there  something  delightful  in  the  condition  of  these 
children  of  nature,  thoughtful  only  of  to-day,  and  careless  of  to 
morrow,  when  compared  with  that  of  the  painful  delvers  of 
civilization.  The  former  are  birds  flying  freely  in  the  air;  the 
latter,  poultry  scratching  in  a  barn-yard." 

Sir  Christopher  laughed  good  naturedly  at  the  sally  of  his 
friend.  "  Verily,"  he  said,  "  were  it  not  for  thy  mistress,  I  do 
believe  thou  hadst  remained  amongst  the  Taranteens.  Unfortu 
nate  for  them  is  it  that  civilization  has  an  ally  in  love.  Were 
this  life  all,"  he  added,  gravely,  his  whole  manner  changing, 
"  there  were  some  reason  in  what  yow  say.  It  were  wisdom,  then, 
to  sport  like  insects  in  sunbeams — to  sink  at  night  into  dreamless 
sleep.  But  such  is  not  man's  destiny.  What  infinite  concern 
ments  hang  on  the  present  moment !  How  imperative  and 
urgent  is  our  duty  to  wean  these  poor  heathen  from  their  wild 
ways  and  false  creed,  that  they  may  be  rescued  from  the  in 
tolerable  perdition  that  awaits  all  who  are  not  of  Holy 
Church." 

"  It  surely  is  a  lamentable  future  for  the  poor  creatures,"  said 
the  young  man ;  "  and  yet  I  suppose  it  must  be  so,  because  the 
learned  of  all  creeds,  which  call  themselves  Christian,  do  agree 
therein.  Ah,  me !  poor  Sassacus !" 

"  I  opine,"  said  the  gentle  Knight,  "  that  the  flames  of  hell 
will  be  tempered  to  such  poor  wretches,  in  consideration  of  their 
ignorance." 

"  It  is  horrible  to  think  of,"  said  Arundel,  shuddering ;  and,  as 
if  desirous  to  change  the  subject,  he  inquired,  "  May  I  ask,  with 
out  offence,  after  the  country  of  Sassacus  ?" 

"  Assuredly  you  may.  It  is  some  hundred  miles  to  the  south  of 
Boston — the  principal  villages  of  the  Fequots  being  on  a  river  of 
the  same  name,  and  on  a  lesser  stream  called  the  Mystic,  and 
along  the  reverberating  shores  of  the  Atlantic.  It  is  a  pleasant 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  319 

land  of  bright  waters,  and  fair  valleys,  and  towering  hills,  fit  to 
produce  a  race  of  hardy  warriors." 

"  Hast  thou  visited  it  thyself?" 

"  Once,  on  a  hunting  expedition,  did  I  wander  thus  far,  and 
partake  of  the  hospitality  of  the  Pequot  Chief,  who,  in  return, 
was  prevailed  upon  to  visit  my  poor  quarters." 

"  I  wonder  what  induces  the  noble  savage  to  linger  so  long 
about  Massachusetts  Bay,  after  having  made  his  visit  to  you,  and 
confess  to  some  apprehensions  on  his  account." 

"  Have  no  fear  on  that  score,"  said  the  Knight,  cheerfully. 
"  Sassacus  is  prudent  as  well  as  brave,  and,  as  you  saw  on  the 
night  when  he  was  attacked  by  the  Taranteens,  has  some  of  his 
men  with  him  ;  besides,  the  Aberginians  are  at  peace  with  his 
tribe." 

"It  is  only  the  ingenious  malice  of  the  Assistant  Spikeman 
that  I  dread." 

"  Be  assured,  also,  on  that  head.  He  will  not  venture  into 
Boston  during  our  absence,  and  will  so  carefully  keep  out  of  the 
way  as  to  allow  no  opportunity  for  violence." 

How  mistaken  was  the  Knight,  is  already  known  ;  but  the 
most  consummate  tact  and  profoundest  wisdom  are  not  able  to 
guard  against  every  possible  emergency. 

With  conversations  of  this  kind  did  the  two  companions  be 
guile  the  way,  on  their  journey  homeward,  which  occupied  some 
what  less  time  than  it  took  to  reach  the  Indian  village.  It  was 
early  in  the  morning — that  is  to  say,  the  sun  had  just  risen — 
when  they  stood  on  the  edge  of  the  clearing  within  which  stood 
the  Knight's  habitation.  Here  they  were  met  by  an  Indian,  who, 
to  Sir  Christopher's  inquiry  if  all  was  well,  answered,  senten- 
tiously,  "  All  well."  On  arriving  at  the  house,  they  found  the 
soldier,  Philip,  who  manifested  his  joy  at  seeing  them  again  in  a 
manner  contrasting  somewhat  with  that  of  the  phlegmatic 
native. 


320      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

After  the  demonstrations  of  welcome,  Philip  said,  "  I  know 
not,  Sir  Christopher,  whether  you  have  not  got  away  from  one 
danger,  only  to  fall  into  another.  According  to  my  thinking,  a 
man  of  any  spirit  may  better  trust  himself  with  the  salvages, 
whom  I  find  nice,  reasonable  people  enough,  who  will  not  inter 
fere  with  him  if  he  will  let  them  alone,  than  with  the  meddle 
some,  crop-eared  knaves  down  on  the  Bay." 

"  Remember  in  whose  presence  you  are  speaking,  Philip,"  said 
the  Knight,  "  and  that  it  becomes  not  me  to  hear  those  whose 
ambassador  I  am,  evil  spoken  of." 

"  I  crave  pardon,"  said  Philip  ;  "  but,  if  all  tales  be  true,  they 
deserve  no  such  forbearance.  It  was  out  of  no  friendship,  they 
sent  you  to  be  murdered  by  them  Taranteens,  nor  will  they  fire 
a  culverin  at  your  return." 

"  Out  with  thy  news,  at  once,"  cried  the  impatient  Arundel, 
"  nor  stand  there  hanging  fire,  like  a  musket  when  the  priming  is 
wet.  What  hast  to  tell  f ' 

"  111  news,  Master  Arundel,  folk  say  can  travel  a  mile,  while 
good  is  putting  on  his  boots ;  but  you  seem  not  to  be  contented 
with  its  haste.  Nay,"  added  Philip,  noticing  that  the  Knight 
began  to  show  impatience,  "  an'  you  will  have  it.  It  is  little  less 
than  treason,  I  fear,  they  are  charging  against  Sir  Christopher. 
It  is  a  kind  of  Guy-Fawks  plot  they  are  accusing  him  of  hatch 
ing — that  is  to  say,  that  he  means  to  make  himself  king  of  both 
colonies." 

"  Is  that  all,  Philip,"  said  the  Knight,  laughing.  "  By  our 
lady,  I  have  heard  worse  stories  about  myself  many  a  time,  since 
I  lived  in  these  woods." 

"  I  tell  thee.  Sir  Christopher,"  said  the  soldier,  earnestly, 
"  this  is  no  laughing  matter.  If  I  were  in  thy  place,  I  would 
either  fall  back  on  Sassacus  and  his  tribe  of  Pequots,  or  gather 
me  forthwith  a  few  hundred  salvages,  under  arms,  if  you  mean  to 
stand  your  ground.  It  is  true,  bows  and  arrows  are  beggarly 


THE  KNIGHT  OP  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.      321 

things  against  muskets,  in  a  fight  at  arms-length,  but  at  close 
quarters,  knives  and  tomahawks  can  do  somewhat." 

"  But,  good  Philip,"  said  the  Knight,  "  thy  words  convey  little 
information.  Canst  not  be  more  precise1?" 

"  All  I  know,"  said  the  soldier,  "  is,  that  they  say  the  trouble 
comes  from  certain  letters  which  have  just  arrived  from  England, 
charging  you,  Sir  Christopher,  with  I  know  not  what  horrid 
crimes.  The  person  who  told  me  was  sure  they  were  very  bad  ; 
but  what  they  were,  knew,  forsooth,  no  better  than  I." 

"  Perhaps  the  Lady  Geraldine  will  be  able  to  clear  up  the 
mystery,"  said  the  Knight  to  Arundel.  "  Let  us  dismiss  all 
thought  of  it  for  the  present.  There  will  be  time  enough  here 
after  to  disquiet  ourselves." 

"  And  I  will  hie  me  presently,"  said  Arundel,  "  to  Boston,  to 
inform  the  Governor  of  your  arrival,  and  to  discover,  if  that  be 
possible,  what  means  the  nonsense  that  has  taken  possession  of 
Philip,  unless  Lady  Geraldine  can  explain  it,  which  will  save  me 
the  trouble.  Is  it  your  pleasure  to  accompany  me,  or  remain 
you  later?" 

"  I  have  some  trifling  duties  to  attend  to,"  answered  Sir  Chris 
topher,  "  and  shall  remain.  It  will  be  enough  for  thee,  with  all 
convenient  dispatch,  to  inform  him  of  the  successful  issue  of  our 
mission." 

They  now  entered  the  house  together,  and  the  Knight  went 
immediately  to  seek  the  lady.  He  was  absent  but  a  short  time, 
and,  on  his  return,  stated  that  the  only  information  she  had  was 
derived  from  the  soldier.  "  She  bade  me  say,"  he  added,  "that 
her  prayers  have  been  earnest  on  thy  behalf,  and  that  she  wel 
comes  thee  again  to  thy  friends." 

The  young   man,  (who,  meanwhile,  had  been   listening  to  a 
communication  from  Philip,)  as  was  meet,  returned   thanks,  and 
desired  his  dutiful  service  to  be  presented  to  the  lady. 
,    Upon   parting,  Sir  Christopher  instructed  him  respecting  his 
message.  14 


322      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

"  Present  to  the  Governor,"  he  said,  in  conclusion,  "  my  con 
gratulations  on  the  successful  issue  of  our  enterprise.  Now  may 
the  husbandman,  fearless,  sow  his  seed,  and  his  wife  and  little 
ones  look  with  confidence  for  his  return.  Midnight  treachery 
and  savage  cruelty  shall  not  be  known,  but  each  one  expect  with 
a  joyful  heart  the  rising  of  the  sun.  But  I  counsel  no  attempt 
at  nearer  approach.  It  is  better  that  the  English  and  the  Tar- 
anteens  should  avoid  one  another.  Only  therein  is  safety.  Say 
also  that  I  purpose,  after  needful  rest,  to  wait  upon  him  to 
morrow,  to  enjoy  once  more  the  charm  of  his  gracious  society, 
and  to  possess  him  more  fully  of  our  deeds." 

With  these  parting  words,  he  waived  adieu,  and,  turning, 
sought  the  apartment  of  Lady  Geraldine. 

The  door  was  opened,  as  before,  by  the  little  Indian  girl,  Nee- 
bin,  who,  as  soon  as  she  had  admitted  the  Knight,  ran  to  the 
side  of  the  lady,  and,  falling  on  her  knees,  began  with  curious 
eyes  to  examine  a  book  which  the  lady  held  in  her  lap. 

The  Knight  looked  affectionately  at  the  child,  and,  approaching 
her,  placed  his  hand  upon  the  raven  hair  that  fell  low  upon  the 
shoulders,  and,  caressing  the  bent  head,  said  gently  : 

"  Good  little  Neebin !  Has  she  learned  all  about  the  pretty 
pictures  ?" 

The  girl  turned  up  to  him  her  bright  eyes,  and,  in  better  English 
than  that  commonly  used  by  the  Indians,  and  even  with  a  pro 
nunciation  that  approached  correctness,  replied  : 

"  No — Neebin  knows  very  little  now,  but  the  lady  says  the 
book  will  talk  to  her  by  and  by." 

It  was  one  of  those  illuminated  missals  on  which,  for  want  of 
other  occupation,  and  sometimes  with  a  feeling  of  superstitious 
piety,  the  monks  spent  incredible  pains,  and  often  a  capricious 
and  wonderful  ingenuity,  which  the  half-reclaimed  little  savage 
was  looking  at.  As  if  unable  to  satisfy  her  curiosity  fast  enough, 
ehe  turned  the  leaves  over  with  childish  impatience,  uttering  now 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  323 

and  then  a  cry  of  delight  as  she  beheld  the  figure  of  a  bird  or  of 
a  quadruped,  while  her  eyes  would  sadden  as  they  fell  upon  the 
mournful  face  of  the  crucified  Saviour,  whose  image  was  deline 
ated  in  several  parts  of  the  book. 

"  She  knows  all  her  letters,"  said  Sister  Celestina,  whose  true 
character  as  a  Catholic  and  a  nun  the  reader  has  long  ago  di 
vined,  "  and  I  permit  her,  as  a  reward,  to  look  at  the  missal 
whenever  she  has  been  diligent." 

"  Your  task  is  something  like  taming  a  young  hawk,"  said 
the  Knight. 

"  Neebin  is  not  a  hawk !"  exclaimed  the  child.  "  Hawks  do 
not  wear  clothes,  nor  yellow  chains,  nor  can  they  say  Pater  noster 
and  A  ve  Maria" 

11  No,"  said  the  lady ;  "  nor  have  they  a  soul  to  be  saved,  like 
Neebin." 

"  What,  is  a  soul  ?"  inquired  the  girl. 

Tears  dimmed  the  eyes  of  Sister   Celestina   at  the   question, 
and,  before  she  could  reply,  the  Knight  said: 
•     "  Thou  hast  asked  a   question,  Neebin,  which  puzzles    wiser 
heads ;  but  it  is  something  which  lives  when  the  body  becomes 
dust." 

"  O,  yes,"  said  the  child.  "  I  have  heard  the  lady  (for  so  she 
had  been  taught  to  call  Sister  Celestina)  talk  about  it.  How 
does  it  look  !" 

"There  thou  askest  a  question  beyond  the  boundaries  of 
knowledge.  No  one  Jias  returned  from  the  grave  to  answer  it," 
said  the  Knight. 

"  I  know,"  said  the  child  ;  "  my  mother  told  me.  It  is  Nee- 
bin's  soul  which  looks  at  her  when  she  bends  over  a  clear  spring ; 
it  lives  in  the  water." 

"1  have  tried,"  said  the  lady,  "  to  impart  the  idea,  but  it  seems 
only  to  begin  to  dawn  upon  her  inind.  I  trust,  by  Heaven's 
grace,  (crossing  herself,)  it  will  grow  and  bear  fruit  to  the  glory 
of  sweet  Jesus's  name." 


324:  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

"  What  magnificent  results  do  flow  from  seemingly  insignificant 
causes!"  said  Sir  Christopher.  "  A  spark  shall  light  a  confla 
gration  of  a  mighty  city ;  an  acorn  shall  bear  an  oak  to  waft 
armies  over  oceans  to  conquest ;  and  the  conversion  of  a  child 
to  the  true  faith  may  change  the  destinies  of  nations.  It  may  be 
thy  blessed  lot,  Celestina,  to  plant  a  seed  which  shall  grow  into 
a  tree,  whose  branches  shall  cover  earth  with  grateful  shade,  and 
reach  to  heaven.  There  was  a  time  when,  influenced  by  the 
example  of  a  king  or  queen,  whose  mind  divine  grace  had  illumi 
nated,  whole  multitudes  rushed  to  be  laved  in  the  saving  waters 
of  baptism.  Wherefore  should  not  those  days  return  ?  Now 
doth  the  suffering  Church  mourn  like  a  pelican  in  the  wilderness, 
and  though  she  gives  her  blood  in  streams  from  her  torn  bosom— 
alas !  how  flows  that  crimson  river,  as  if  in  vain  !" 

"  Not  all  in  vain,"  said  the  lady.  "  Cheering  accounts  of 
the  progress  of  our  missionaries  in  the  Southern  portions  of  this 
vast  continent  reach  us  from  time  to  time,  and  the  prayers  of  the 
Church  are  sanctifying  the  land  from  the  flood  of  the  Mississippi 
to  the  forests  of  Canada.  But  tell  me  now,  Sir  Christopher,  of 
thine  adventures." 

The  Knight  looked  significantly  at  the  Indian  girl. 

"  Neebin,"  said  the  lady,  "  take  the  book  and  examine  it  by 
thyself.  Sir  Christopher  and  I  desire  to  be  alone.  But  beware 
that  thou  show  it  to  no  one,  for  all  are  not  privileged  like  thee 
to  see  its  beautiful  pictures." 

The  child  took  the  missal,  but  lingered,  as  if  unwilling  to  de 
part,  and  it  was  not  until  after  a  more  decided  repetition  of  the 
command,  that,  with  a  pout,  she  left  the  room. 

"  Whom  of  the  holy  fathers  saw  you "?"  inquired  Sister  Ce 
lestina,  after  the  door  was  shut. 

"  Only  Father  Le  Yieux,"  answered  Sir  Christopher,  "  and 
he  charged  me  with  a  commission  which  I  now  discharge."  So 
saying,  he  took  from  his  bosom  the  letter  which  the  Jesuit  mis 
sionary  had  entrusted  him  with,  and  handed  it  to  the  lady. 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.  325 

Sister  Celestina  took  it,  and,  imprinting  a  kiss  upon  the 
epistle  which  had  come  from  the  holy  father's  hand,  laid  it  on 
the  table. 

"  Let  my  presence  be  no  restraint,"  said  the  Knight.  "I  have 
nought  to  say,  which  can  be  of  equal  importance  with  anything 
that  comes  from  Father  Le  Vieux." 

"  Thanks  for  your  courtesy,"  said  the  lady  ;  and,  taking  up 
the  letter,  she  broke  the  wrapper  wherein  it  was  contained,  and 
which  was  fastened  together  by  means  of  some  unknown  cement 
or  gum,  and  commenced  its  perusal. 

Perhaps  the  Knight  had  some  design  in  desiring  her  to  open 
it  in  his  presence,  for,  during  the  whole  time  while  she  was  en 
gaged  in  reading,  he  watched  her  countenance,  as  if  he  expected 
to  see  the  contents  of  the  letter  there ;  and  though  her  training 
had  been  as  complete  as  his  own,  yet,  by  reason  of  her  more 
delicate  organization,  she  was  unable  so  to  conceal  her  emotion 
that  it  should  be  entirely  unobserved.  The  faintest  possible  color 
suffused  her  face  as  she  proceeded,  and  when  she  raised  her  eyes 
at  the  conclusion,  they  had  in  them  a  look  which,  though  it 
baffled  the  sagacity  of  her  keen  observer,  betrayed  a  something 
which  he  did  not  like.  It  was  not  triumph,  nor  despondency, 
nor  joy,  nor  grief,  but,  according  to  the  fancy  of  Sir  Christopher, 
a  strange  mingling  of  them  all.  The  two  had  been  in  the  habit, 
on  their  arrival  in  the  country,  and  for  some  time  thereafter,  to 
show  to  each  other  their  letters — a  custom  from  which  the 
Knight  had  never  departed,  but  which,  of  late,  had  been  observed 
with  less  scrupulousness  by  the  lady  ;  and  he  noticed  now,  that, 
instead  of  handing  the  epistle  to  him,  as  formerly,  she  hid  it  in 
her  bosom.  Something,  indeed,  she  said  about  its  being  from  her 
confessor,  but  the  explanation,  though  natural,  did  not  satisfy. 
He  made  no  remark,  however,  but  proceeded  to  give  an  account 
of  what  had  befallen  him  and  his  companion.  He  told  her  how, 
by  an  arrangement  with  Mesandowit,  (who  had  been  sent  by  the 


326     THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  ME  LICE. 

Taranteens  to  inquire  of  him  whether  their  second,  viz.,  their 
hostile  embassy,  would  be  in  danger  from  the  English,  and  which, 
in  consequence  of  Sir  Christopher's  assurances,  had  been  ven 
tured  upon,)  they  had  been  taken  prisoners — of  the  conversation 
which  passed  between  himself  and  Father  Le  Vieux,  and  of  the 
means  resorted  to,  in  order  to  remove  Arundel  from  the  Indian 
village.  The  lady  listened  with  a  pleased  ear  to  the  recital,  and, 
at  its  conclusion,  expressed  her  gratification  at  the  dexterity  with 
which  the  business  had  been  managed,  and  the  success  which 
had  crowned  it. 

"  The  holy  saints  and  angels  have  watched  over  you,  to  guard 
you  in  your  ways,"  she  said,  "  and  it  proves  the  Divine  appro 
bation." 

"  Truly,  Celestina,  is  such  a  belief  necessary,  else  would  the 
things  I  am  called  sometimes  to  do,  break  me  down  with  their 
oppressive  weight.  Only  by  its  means  can  I  satisfy  myself,  when 
the  commands  of  my  superiors  seem  to  conflict  with  mine  honor." 

"  Honor  !  exclaimed  sister  Celestina — "what  is  it  but  a  delusive 
phantom,  whereby  ye  men  are  frighted  from  the  noblest  under 
takings  ?  What  right  has  such  a  consideration  to  interfere,  when 
you  are  called  upon  to  act  by  them  who  are  set  over  you,  and 
whom  you  are  bound  to  obey  ?  It  is  a  deadly  sin  to  dream  that 
they  may  err,  and  granting  that  they  do,  on  them  and  not  on 
you  rests  the  responsibility." 

"  True  ;  yet  speak  not  slightingly  of  a  feeling  which  is  ever 
the  parent  of  glorious  deeds.  Was  it  not  inspired  by  honor,  that 
the  Roman  Regulus  returned  to  certain  torture  and  death  ?  that 
the  chivalrous  King  of  Israel,  when  fainting  with  thirst,  poured 
out  to  the  Lord  the  water  for  which  his  soul  longed  ?  that  gal 
lant  hearts  innumerable  have  crimsoned  the  battle-field  with 
their  heart's  blood,  rather  than  that  even  a  suspicion  should  soil 
their  escutcheon  ?" 

<«  Were  a  profane  heretic,  or  an  accursed  Jew,  or  a  misguided 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.      327 

heathen,  to  set  these  up  to  himself  as  ensamples,  it  might  be  ex 
cused,"  said  the  sister,  scornfully  ;  "  but  what  has  the  soldier,  who 
has  enlisted  under  the  banner  of  the  blessed  St.  Ignatius,  to  do 
with  imaginations  alike  fantastic  and  full  of  a  sounding  frenzy  ? 
"Was  it  for  the  glory  of  God  that  these  men  died,  or  because 
they  coveted  the  praise  of  the  world,  and  gratified  a  ferocious  in 
stinct  of  their  nature  ?" 

"  I  deny  not  the  superior  nobility  of  the  principle  of  my  order," 
returned  the  Knight,  "  inasmuch  as  it  excludes  selfishness,  save 
as  it  is  of  necessity,  connected  with  the  aspiration  for  salvation  ; 
still  can  I  not  be  mistaken  in  the  admiration  of  a  sentiment 
which  lifts  man  above  all  baseness,  and  prompts  him  to  achieve 
exploits  that  shall  send  his  name  reverberating  through  the  halls 
of  princes  and  the  cabins  of  laborers,  to  be  warbled  by  the  lips 
of  beauty  at  the  festival,  or  shouted  in  front  of  the  charging  host. 
Yet,  mistake  me  not,  Celestina,  but  believe,  that  while  my  heart 
loves  not  honor  less,  my  understanding  renders  a  deeper  homage 
to  the  principle  of  Ignatius.  But  whither  hath  my  wandering 
talk  strayed  f  he  added,  checking  himself.  "  I  did  desire,  after 
delivering  thy  letter,  to  say,  that  it  is  my  purpose  to  follow  hard 
on  the  heels  of  Master  Arundel,  and  also  to  caution  thee  to  con 
tinue  to  keep  carefully  concealed,  during  my  absence,  the  sacred 
crucifix,  and  whatever  else  might  betray  us  to  our  enemies.  For 
give  me  that  I  give  this  advice,  but  I  see  that  thou  hast  relaxed 
thy  watchfulness  over  the  missal." 

"  The  warning  is  unnecessary.  Nightly  is  the  blessed  cross, 
whereon  the  hands  of  his  holiness  have  been  laid,  deposited  with 
my  rnissal  and  rosary  in  our  p.lace  of  concealment.  And  as  for 
Ncebin,  fear  not  to  trust  her.  She  is  as  jealous  of  her  treasure 
as  could  be  thou  or  T.  But  leave  me  not  until  you  receive  tidings 
from  the  heretics.  These  ill-omened  reports  I  like  not.  They 
may,  indeed,  be  idle,  yet  it  is  only  prudence  to  wait." 

"  I  care  not  for  them,  yet,  to  pleasure  thee,  would  I  do  more. 


328  THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN   MELICE. 

I  will  remain,  according  to  thy  wish,  and,  meanwhile,  to-night, 
seek  Sassacus,  who  soon  returns  to  his  distant  tribe." 

"  Be  it  so,  then,"  said  the  lady.  "  Neebin  !"  she  called  to  the 
Indian  girl,  who  was  in  the  adjoining  apartment,  and  who,  at 
the  summons,  came  running  up  ;  "  give  me  now  the  book,  and  I 
will  tell  thee  a  story  about  one  of  the  pictures." 

The  Knight  understood  this  as  a  signal  to  withdraw,  and  ac 
cordingly  took  his  leave. 

The  lady,  on  his  departure,  instead  of  talking  with  the  child, 
returned  her  the  missal  with  an  excuse,  and  drawing  the  letter 
of  Father  Le  Vieux  from  her  bosom,  commenced  reading  it  again. 

u  My  judgment,  then,"  she  murmured,  "  is  confirmed  by 
that  of  the  holy  father.  Thus  writes  he  :  '  I  fear,  my  daughter, 
that  the  leaven  hath  not  done  its  perfect  oifice.  There  be  many 
called,  but  alas,  how  few  are  fit  for  the  work  !  In  some  things 
hesitancy  is  a  deadly  sin.  Let  the  faint-hearted  step  aside,  that 
more  vigorous  souls  may  take  their  place.'  Whatever  may  be 
the  consequences,"  she  continued  to  herself,  "  I  feel  cheered,  in 
that  my  course  will  be  approved  by  the  father.  Thou  knowest, 
holy  Mary,  that  it  was  through  no  ignoble  motive,  but  only  for 
thy  glory  I  did  this  thing,  whereof,  alas !  my  poor  woman's  heart 
more  than  half  repented.  Oh  !  pity,  that  one  endowed  with  so 
many  gracious  qualities  as  Sir  Christopher,  should  lack  the  iron 
firmness  which  gives  consistency  and  dignity  to  life,  and  that  his 
weakness  compelled  me  to  that  which  I  would  not,  for  the  world, 
his  noble  nature  should  suspect !  But  since  this  letter  from  the 
father,  no  doubt  assails  me.  The  course  I  have  adopted  I  will 
pursue,  nor  shall  my  constant  soul  falter.  Sooner  shall  the  needle 
desert  the  beloved  pole." 

The  face  of  the  woman  assumed  an  expression  of  indomitable 
resolution.  She  looked  like  one  incapable  of  a  weakness — like 
one  who,  mastered  by  an  engrossing  purpose,  feels  that  all  else  is 
trivial,  and  to  be  as  little  regarded  as  the  dust  which  the  travel 
ler  shakes  from  his  soiled  garment. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

He  hears 

On  all  sides,  from  innumerable  tongues, 
A  dismal,  universal  hiss. 

PARADISE  LOST. 

WHEN  Arundel  arrived  at  the  little  settlement,  he  proceeded 
straightway  to  the  hostelry,  which  was  his  usual  stopping  place, 
and  as  he  entered,  was  met  by  the  landlord  with  those  demonstra 
tions  of  welcome,  wherewith  the  publican  is  in  the  habit  of  greet 
ing  his  customers. 

"  So  you  have  got  safe  off  from  them  bloody  salvages,  (praised 
be  the  Lord  for  all  his  mercies),"  said  goodman  Nettles.  "  And 
you  look  browner,  as  though  you'd  caught  some  of  their  color  from 
being  with  them,  but  hearty  as  my  tapster,  Zachariah  Sider,  who 
can  begin  with  the  head  of  an  ox,  and  never  stop  till  he  wipes  his 
mouth  with  the  tuft  on  the  end  of  the  tail,  washing  it  down, 
moreover,  with  a  quantity  of  ale  that  ails  me — ahem  ! — (here 
Nettles  put  his  linger  on  the  side  of  his  nose,  and  grinned  as 
if  he  had  really  said  a  capital  thing,)  to  see  wasted  on  his  lean 
carcase.  But,  Master  Arundel,  you  must  be  dry.  There  is  some 
of  the  old  Canary  left." 

"  Let  me  have  a  bottle,  and,  if  agreeable  to  thee,  we  will  empty 
it  together." 

As  the  landlord  left  the  room,  Arundel,  on  looking  round,  dis 
covered  what  he  had  not  observed  before,  viz.,  our  old  friend, 
Master  Prout,  in  a  sort  of  recess,  formed  by  the  projection  of  the 

H« 


330  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE. 

chimney.  The  worthy  functionary  was  engaged,  at  the  moment, 
in  taking  his  eleven  o'clock  refreshment  of  a  pot  of  beer,  (a  habit 
from  which  his  exile  from  the  old  country  had  not  been  able  to 
wean  him,)  but,  at  the  approach  of  the  young  man,  he  rose,  and 
gravely  shook  hands  with  him.  Miles  had  barely  time  to  offer  a 
share  of  the  wine,  which,  however,  Master  Prout  refused,  when 
Nettles  returned  with  a  bottle. 

"  There,"  said  he,  setting  it  down,  and  looking  affectionately 
at  it,  "  I  warrant  me  you  get  no  such  soul  of  the  grape  among 
the  red  heathen,  though  if  they  had  any  wit  they  might  have  pun 
cheons  of  it,  if  they  only  knew  how  to  make  them,  for  they  say 
there  is  store  of  grape  vines  growing  about." 

"  As  for  me,"  said  Master  Prout,  after  raising  the  tankard  to 
his  lips,  and  taking  a  draught,  long  and  deep,  "  I'm  a  genuine  En 
glishman  in  my  taste.  Give  me,  say  I,  your  humming  beer,  with 
a  body  to  it,  in  place  of  all  the  wishy-washy  wines  of  the  French 
man  or  the  Spaniard.  They  only  pucker  one's  mouth,  and  heat 
one's  blood ;  but  there  is  neither  bread  nor  cheese  in  them,  as  in 
good  John  Barleycorn." 

"  The  ale  deserves  all  your  praise,  Master  Prout,"  said  the 
host,  "  though  I  say  it  myself;  nevertheless,  is  the  good  wine  not 
to  be  despi  led.  I  know  no  reason  why  a  true  born  Englishman 
may  not  like  both." 

"  It  may  be  well  for  thee,  whose  business  is  to  get  thy  living 
from  their  sale,  to  talk  Ihus,"  replied  Master  Prout;  "  but  for  all 
that,  I  relish  not  these  foreign  decoctions — your  Canaries,  your 
Sherries,  and  your  Portos.  Their  very  names  have  a  smack  of 
popery  in  them.  Down  with  the  Pope,  and  all  his  inventions  to 
tickle  men's  palates  and  damn  their  souls." 

"  And  so  say  I,  down  with  the  Pope,  but  up  with  good  wine, 
and  down  with  it  too,  so  it  only  runs  in  the  right  place ;  but  it 
grieves  me  to  hear  you,  good  Master  Prout,  evening  down  good 
wine  to  the  Pope— why — " 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  331 

"  Contradict  me  not,  goodman  Nettles,"  interrupted  the  guar 
dian  of  public  morals.  "  I  say  that  I  have  ever  remarked 
the  man  who  prefers  wine  to  ale,  to  be  of  an  unsteady  faith.  It 
savors  of  a  hankering  after  the  flesh-pots  of  Egypt.  Let  not 
such  a  man  be  trusted." 

As  the  constable  was  speaking,  Arundel  could  not  help  fancy' 
ing  that  he  looked  hard  at  him,  as  if  some  personal  application  of 
the  words  were  intended.  He  took  no  notice,  however,  of  them, 
especially  as  mine  host  immediately  rejoined : 

"  Dear,  good  Master  Prout,  speak  not  so.  Why,  if  my  cus 
tomers  were  to  hear  you,  the  character  of  my  house  might  be 
ruinated.  Whoever  heard  before  that  the  Pope  had  ever  any 
thing  to  do  with  wine?  I  do  not  believe  he  drinks  it  at  all." 

"  Art  thou  a  Christian  man,  and  so  ignorant  of  the  things  that 
pertain  to  salvation  ?  Tells  us  not  the  Book  of  Revelations  of 
the  merchandise  of  the  great  city  of  Babylon,  when  it  shall  fall — 
cinnamon,  and  odors,  and  ointments,  and  frankincense,  and  wine  ; 
and  sayest  thou  the  Pope  hath  no  part  thereof?" 

"  An'  you  are  for  Scripture,"  answered  mine  host,  "  have  at 
thee  with  a  text  in  return  ?  Saith  not  the  Scripture,  also,  He 
giveth  wine  to  gladden  man's  heart  *?  Moreover,  though  there  be 
wine  at  Rome,  it  doth  not  follow,  therefrom,  that  it  is  drunk  by 
the  Pope." 

u  Contradict  me  not,  I  say,  goodman,  and  pervert  not  the 
Scriptures  with  thy  famulistical  interpretations.  I  observed  you 
spoke  but  a  moment  ago  of  the  soul  of  the  grape,  as  if  it  were 
possible  that  a  divine  principle  could  lodge  therein.  I  cau 
tion  thee  against  this,  as  a  profane  and  indecent  form  of  speech, 
unbecoming  in  one  of  the  congregation ;  and,  besides,  an'  thou 
wouldst  retain  my  custom,  take  heed  thou  put  more  malt  into 
thy  ale." 

"  It  is  strong  enough  to  answer  thy  purpose,"  muttered  the 
offended  landlord,  but  in  so  low  a  tone  as  to  be  unheard  ;  and, 


332  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN   MELICE. 

as  new  customers  began  to  come  in,  he  left,  in  order  to  assist,  in 
manipulations  of  the  bottle  and  spigot,  his  tapster,  Zachariah 
Sider,  whom  his  late  flourishing  fortune  had  enabled  him  to  add  to 
the  establishment. 

"  Has  anything  worthy  of  note  occurred,  during  my  absence  of 
three  weeks  ?"  inquired  Arundel  of  Master  Prout. 

"  How  were  it  possible  otherwise  ?"  replied  the  constable, 
whom  the  colloquy  with  the  host  seemed  not  to  have  left  in  the 
best  of  humors.  "  Here  hath  been  Increase  Faith  Higginson 
twice  coopered  up  in  a  barrel,  once  for  drunkenness,  and  a  second 
time  on  suspicion  thereof ;  Jonathan  Makepiece  hath  lain  in  the 
stocks  for  quarreling  with,  and  using  contumacious  language  to 
ward  David  Battle ;  Susannah  Silence  hath  sat  tied  in  a  chair, 
before  her  door,  writh  a  cleft  stick  upon  her  tongue,  for  being  too 
free  in  the  use  of  that  member ;  divers  godly  persons  have  con 
nected  themselves  with  the  congregation,  and  two  unworthy 
Achans  beendriven  therefrom — the  one  for  incontinence,  until 
he  repent  thereof,  and  the  other  for  denying  the  just  power  of 
the  elders." 

Arundel  could  not  forbear  smiling  at  this  odd  enumeration  of 
important  events,  which  his  informant  observing,  and  construing 
into  disrespect,  immediately  added  : 

"  Have  a  care,  Master  Miles  Arundel,  unto  thyself.  I  wish 
thee  well,  for  thou  art  a  proper  young  man,  and,  did  the  inner 
garnishing  correspond  with  the  outer  adornment,  thou  wert  in 
deed  a  comely  vessel  of  grace ;  and,  therefore,  say  I  unto  thee, 
there  be  other  matters  touching  thee  more  nearly  than  those 
things  whereof  I  have  spoken,  and  whereat,  I  know  not  where 
fore,  it  pleased  thee  to  smile." 

"  I  pray  you  to  pardon  my  involuntary  offence,"  said  the  young 
man,  "and  to  believe  that  my  smiling  betokened  no  disrespect. 
My  mirth  was  awakened  by  the  comical  pictures  which  thine 
i  genious  answer  conjured  before  the  imagination." 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  333 

"  I  trow,"  said  Master  Prout,  "  they  who  come  under  the  dis 
pleasure  of  our  magistrates,  will  find  their  punishments  no  such 
comical  matters.  There  be  such  things  as  whippings  and  nose- 
slittings,  as  well  as  sittings  in  the  stocks,  and  the  like." 

"  I  know,"  answered  Arundel,  "  that  your  magistrates  are  no 
lambs.  Yet  of  thy  complaisance,  tell  me  wherein  I  am  inter 
ested  in  aught  that  has  befallen  in  my  absence." 

"  This  Sir  Christopher  Gardiner,  the  man  who  is  sometimes 
called  *  The  Knight  of  the  Golden  Melice,'  is  a  great  friend  of 
thine,  is  be  not  ?"  asked  Master  Prout. 

"  I  account  it  an  honor  to  call  him  my  friend.  A  worthier  or 
more  honorable  gentleman  lives  not  in  the  colony." 

"  There  be  different  opinions  on  that  head,  my  young  master. 
The  closer  thy  friendship,  the  worse,  I  fear,  it  will  be  for 
thee." 

"  Speak  out,  Master  Prout,"  exclaimed  Arundel,  losing  pa 
tience.  "  If  thou  knowest  any  talk  prejudicial  to  the  fair  fame 
of  the  Sir  Christopher,  let  me  know  it,  that  the  calumniator  may 
be  dragged  to  light,  and  receive  deserved  punishment." 

"  It  would  take  a  long  arm  to  reach  his  accusers,  seeing  they 
are  on  the  other  side  of  the  ocean.  Hark  ye,  young  sir — it  is  in 
every  one's  mouth  that  thy  famous  Knight  is  an  agent  of  Sir  Fer- 
dinando  Gorges,  who  makes  unrighteous  claim  to  the  lands 
granted  us  by  his  Majesty  King  Charles,  and,  moreover,  thou 
art  connected  with  him,  in  men's  minds,  as  in  some  sort  an  ac 
complice." 

"  Is  that  all  1"  said  the  young  man,  scornfully.  "  I  judge 
from  thy  speech  that  these  lies  come  in  letters  from  England. 
Pray,  are  they  credited  by  any  one,  save  by  them  of  the  baser 
sort  ?" 

"  Callest  thou  me  one  of  the  baser  sort  If  Wilt  thou  revile 
them  who  are  set  in  authority  over  thee  ?  Have  a  care,  my 
young  cockeril,  or  thy  own  comb  may  chance  to  be  cut." 


834  THE   KNIGHT   OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE. 

"  Out  with  thee,  malapert  knave,"  said  the  young  man,  in  his 
vexation,  "and  know  to  respect  thy  betters.  Truly,  the  world 
is  come  to  a  pretty  pass,  when  a  fowl  like  thee  is  permitted  to 
ruffle  his  feathers  at  a  gentleman." 

"  An'  he  were  not  in  some  sort  an  ambassador,  whom  I  have 
heard  it  is  unlawful  for  a  constable  to  touch,"  growled  Master 
Prout  to  himself,  as  Arundel  angrily  turned  his  back  upon  him,  "I 
had  taught  him  incontinently,  better  than  to  speak  to  me  in  this 
fashion.  As  it  is,  I  will  advise  with  Master  Spikeman  about  this 
matter."  So  saying,  with  a  flushed  brow,  the  irate  officer  of  the 
law  departed. 

"  What  means  this,  Colonel  McMahon?"  demanded  Arundel. 
"  Here  have  I  been  a  bare  three  weeks  away,  on  business  of  the 
commonwealth,  and  on  my  return  I  find  myself  rewarded  with 
sour  looks  and  unpleasant  speeches,  sans  any  consciousness  of 
deserving  them.  I  cannot  ask  a  plain  question,  without  being 
answered  in  riddles  that  would  have  crazed  the  brain  of 
GEdipus." 

The  person  addressed,  a  grave  man,  of  middle  age,  and  the 
same  who  had  had  the  words  with  Endicott  about  the  cutting  out 
of  the  cross,  took  the  questioner  aside,  and,  as'soon  as  they  were 
out  of  hearing,  answered  : 

&;  "Truly  am  I  afraid  that  I  shall  also  be  involved  in  thy  con 
demnation  of  those  who  return  answers  after  the  manner  of  the 
sphynx ;  but,  to  be  short,  there  have  two  ships  lately  arrived 
from  England,  bringing,  it  is  said,  unpleasant  tidings  touching 
Sir  Christopher  Gardiner." 

"  What  be  these  tidings  I"  inquired  Arundel,  noticing  that  the 
speaker  hesitated. 

"  I  neither  am,  nor  desire  to  be,  in  the  confidence  of  the  gov 
ernment,"  answered  Colonel  McMahon.  haughtily,  the  wounds 
inflicted  on  whose  loyalty  by  the  mutilation  01  the  standard, 
were  not  yet  healed  ;  "  and  the  information  I  have  is  derived 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  335 

from  a  private  source  and  uncertain  rumor.  For  the  former,  the 
Knight  is  pointed  at  as  an  agent  of  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges  ;  for 
the  latter,  it  becomes  me  not  to  heed  the  idle  chatter  of  the 
vulgar." 

"  Comports  it  with  your  sense  of  propriety  to  reveal  more  ?" 
asked  Arundel. 

"Were  I  never  so  desirous,"  said  the  Colonel,  courteously,  "I 
should  be  unable.  In  fact,  what  I  have  told  is  the  sum  of  my 
knowledge.  I  could,  indeed,  indulge  in  surmises  based  on  rumor, 
but  that  were  too  much  like  the  gossiping  of  old  women,  and  both 
unbecoming  in  me  to  speak  and  in  you  to  hear,  more  especially  as 
that  rumor  attaints  in  other  respects  the  fair  fame  of  your  friend. 
It  is  different  with  the  base-born  scullions  around  us,  who  are 
licensed  to  utter  whatever  their  unruly  imaginations  may  con 
ceive  ;  but  a  gentleman  will  not  allow  epithets  upon  his  tongue 
to  the  disparagement  of  another,  which,  after  all,  may  be  false." 

Having  thus  spoken,  the  Colonel  raised  his  steeple-crowned 
hat  in  a  formal  manner,  slightly  bending  his  body,  and  walked 
up  to  the  landlord,  to  whom  he  paid  his  score,  and  then  left  the 
apartment. 

u  I  will  endure  this  no  longer,"  said  Arundel  to  himself,  put 
ting  on  his  own  hat.  "  I  will  seek  the  Governor  immediately, 
and  demand  from  him  its  explanation." 

Upon  arriving  at  the  house  of  Winthrop,  he  learned,  with  a 
feeling  of  disappointment,  that  the  Governor  was  absent  on  a 
visit  at  Plymouth,  and  he  turned  reluctantly  away,  in  order  to 
communicate  to  the  rough  Dudley,  instead  of  the  polished  chief 
magistrate,  the  result  of  the  mission,  and  to  obtain  that  informa 
tion  which  would  enable  him  to  give  shape  to  the  chaotic  ru 
mors. 

He  was  received  with  neither  cordiality  nor  incivility  by  the 
Deputy  Governor,  to  whom  the  young  man  communicated 
the  success  of  the  conciliatory  efforts  of  Sir  Christopher  with 


836      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

the  Taranteens,  and  at  the  same  time  delivered  the  Knight's  mes 
sage.  His  auditor  listened  in  grim  silence,  interrupting  him 
by  no  inquiry,  nor  did  he,  when  the  communication  was  finished, 
vouchsafe  a  word  of  thanks  for  the  service  rendered.  Dudley 
had  been  a  soldier  in  his  youth,  having  received  a  captain's  com 
mission  from  Queen  Elizabeth,  and  commanded  a  company  of 
volunteers  under  the  chivalrous  Henry  Fourth  of  France,  at  the 
siege  of  Amiens,  in  1597  ;  and,  if  he  had  not  the  quality  of 
frankness  by  nature,  had  acquired  an  appearance  of  it  in  the 
camp,  together  with  a  military  decision  and  roughness  of  manner. 
It  was  not  his  wont  to  disguise  his  feelings,  and  on  the  present 
occasion  they  were  obvious,  even  before  he  opened  his  lips  to 
speak.  When  Arundel  had  concluded,  he  waited  for  the  com 
ments  of  the  Deputy,  nor  had  he  to  wait  long.  First,  however, 
Dudley  inquired, 

"Is  there  nothing  more  thou  wouldst  communicate?" 

"  If  there  be  any  thing  of  importance  or  of  public  concern 
omitted,  it  is  done  unwittingly,"  said  Arundel. 
p£  "  Then  is  thy  news  most  jejune  and  unsatisfactory,  seeing  that 
our  condition  is  neither  war  nor  peace,  but  a  sort  of  armed  truce, 
liable  to  be  broken  at  any  moment  by  these  treacherous  savages. 
I  am  not  to  be  deceived  by  the  promise,  that,  for  the  present,  we 
need  fear  no  hostilities.  I  know  their  craft.  If  they  refuse 
formally  to  make  peace,  they  are  preparing  for  war.  Well,  they 
may  try  their  hand.  But  I  am  disappointed  in  the  opinion  I 
had  of  the  extent  of  the  influence,  by  some  means  acquired,  over 
the  Indians  by  this  Sir  Christopher  Gardiner,  if  he  indeed  have 
authority  to  bear  the  title." 

"  Who  dares  to  say,"  exclaimed  Arundel,  whose  irritation  this 
fresh  taunt  increased,  "that  Sir  Christopher  assumes  a  title  which 
belongs  not  to  him,  or  to  asperse  in  any  respeJbt  bis  character?" 

"  It  will  come  to-  light,"  said  Dudley,  "  in  its*  own  time ;  but 
tell  me  now,  wfierefore  made  not  the  Knight,  as  you  choose  to 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  337 

call  him,  his  appearance  himself?  Methinks  such  proceeding 
were  more  respectful  to  the  authority  which  commissioned 
him." 

The  brow  of  the  young  man  flushed  at  the  rude  speech,  and  it 
was  with  difficulty  that  he  restrained  his  feelings ;  but  he  suc 
ceeded  so  far  as  to  reply  with  an  appearance  of  tolerable  calm 
ness,  that  it  was  only  that  morning  they  had  returned,  and  that 
the  Knight  purposed  to  present  himself  on  the  morrow,  being  de 
tained  for  the  present  by  reasons  which  doubtless  ought  to  be 
satisfactory. 

"It  were  strange,"  said  the  surly  Dudley,  "if  his  private  af 
fairs  should  be  of  more  importance  than  the  interests  of  our 
Commonwealth  ;  and  yet  it  seems  that  the  former  do,  in  his  esti 
mation,  outweigh  the  latter." 

"  I  pray  of  your  goodness  to  pardon  the  fault,"  said  Arundel, 
who  was  determined  that  nothing  should  provoke  his  anger  again 
that  day.  "  Sure  am  I  that,  had  the  Knight  of  the  Golden  Melice 
known  the  importance  attached  to  his  presence,  he  had  come 
forthwith,  without  stopping  for  rest,  or  to  change  his  soiled  gar 
ments,  instead  of  sending  me,  his- unfortunate  and  most  unworthy 
substitute." 

"I  like  not  this  fantastic  title,"  said  Dudley,  whose  ill-humor 
seemed  not  at  all  soothed  by  the  gentle  language  of  the  young 
man,  but  rather  to  increase.  "  I  like  it  not,  whether  it  be  an 
idle  appendage  stuck  on  by  the  humorous  learning  of  Winthrop, 
as  I  have  heard,  or  a  quaint  conceit  springing  out  of  the  man's 
own  vanity.  I  deny  not  honor  and  dignity,  where  they  right 
fully  belong,  but  what  is  to  become  of  the  realities,  if  the  shams 
receive  an  equal  consideration  ?" 

"  I  wander  like  a  man  in  a  mist,  who  sees  not  a  foot  before 
him,"  said  Arundel.  "  I  have  entreated  your  Worship  to  deal 
more  plainly  with  me,  but  it  has  been  your  pleasure  to  seem  as 
if  you  heard  me  not ;  and,  for  the  report  which,  in  the  discharge 


338  THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

of  my  duty,  I  have  made,  I  have  received  only  innuendos  against 
the  fair  fame  of  my  friend,  and  which  do,  in  some  sense,  alight 
upon  myself.  From  whatever  quarter  they  may  proceed,  I  scorn 
and  defy  them,  and  brand  them  as  false ;  and,  I  doubt  not,  the 
appearance  of  Sir  Christopher  will  force  his  detractors  to  disap 
pear,  even  like  so  many  whipped  curs." 

Arundel  spoke  with  a  feeling  of  anger,  notwithstanding  his 
resolution  to  keep  command  over  himself,  and  rose  to  take  his 
leave.  The  spirit  which  he  had  shown  in  his  last  speech,  so  far 
from  displeasing  the  Deputy,  had  a  contrary  effect ;  for,  rising 
himself,  Dudley  grasped  his  visitor's  hand,  and  dismissed  him 
with  less  frigidity  than  he  had  received  him.  Something  also  he 
said,  as  if  in  excuse  of  his  conduct,  about  the  necessity  of  caution, 
amounting  sometimes  to  unreasonable  suspicions  on  the  part  of 
the  rulers  of  a  weak  colony,  depending  more  upon  the  wisdom 
of  its  counsels  than  upon  force  for  its  existence,  intimating  at 
the  same  time,  that  if  any  suspicions  were  attached  to  the  young 
man,  it  was  doubtless  more  in  consequence  of  his  accidental  con 
nection  with  Sir  Christopher,  than  because  he  deserved  tfiem. 

It  is  natural  that  Arundel,  after  his  long  absence,  and  the  un 
pleasant  events  of  the  day,  should  desire  to  derive  some  consola 
tion  from  the  society  of  his  mistress.  We  are  not  surprised, 
therefore,  to  find  him  taking  his  way  toward  the  house  of  the 
Assistant  Spikeman,  in  the  hope  of  receiving  some  signal  which 
would  permit  him  to  enter.  Nor  was  he  disappointed — Pru 
dence,  with  a  light  kerchief  thrown,  over  her  head,  being  just 
stepping  out  of  the  door  on  an  errand  to  some  neighbor  as  he 
came  up.  The  girl  gave  a  pretty  start  as  she  beheld  Arundel, 
partly  natural  and  partly  affected,  and  then  beckoned  to  him  to 
enter. 

"  O  !  how  you  frighted  me !"  she  said,  after  she  had  carefully 
closed  the  door.  '.'  You  have  sent  all  the  blood  into  my  heart ; 
and  it  flutters  so  !" 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  839 

"I  will  bring  it  back  again  into  thy  cheeks,  where  it  shows  so 
prettily,"  replied  Arundel,  saluting  her. 

"  Fie  !  Master  Miles,"  exclaimed  Prudence,  but  not  looking  at 
all  displeased.  "  It  is  well  Master  Prout  sees  thee  not.  Well, 
what  do  you  want?  I  suppose  you  came  to  see  me  1" 

"  I  have  seen  thee,  pretty  Prudence,  and  am  so  unreasonable 
as  to  desire  also  to  be  shown  to  thy  mistress.  She  is  well  1" 

"  I  humbly  thank  your  Worship,"  said  the  girl,  curtseying 
awkwardly,  and  snuffling  thro  ugh  her  nose  in  a  manner  intended 
to  ridicule  the  grave  Puritans,  "  worthy  Dame  Spikeman  is 
well  in  body,  albeit  ill  in  spirit,  being  afflicted  with  a  grievous 
visitation  called  a  husband." 

"  Come,  come,  you  mad-cap  girl,"  said  the  young  man,  laugh 
ing  at  the  caricature,  "  pervert  not  my  meaning,  but  show  me 
the  way  to  Mistress  Eveline.  If  thou  wilt,  1  promise  thee  a 
husband  for  thyself  in  good  time."  * 

"  From  plague,  pestilence,  famine,  and  husbands,  (I  did  ever 
think  the  litany  deficient,)  good  Lord  deliver  us,"  exclaimed  Pru 
dence,  holding  up  her  hands.  "Do  I  look,  forsooth,  like  one  in 
need  of  a  husband,  or  likely  to  assist  my  young  mistress  there 
with  ?  She  deserves  better  at  my  hands.  I  see,  besides,  Master 
Miles,  that  you  are  ignorant  of  the  law  in  this  blessed  country, 
which  forbids  young  men  to  woo  maidens.  I  know  all  about  it, 
for  I  had  it  from  the  lips  of  a  venerable  Assistant.  Shall  I  re 
hearse  it  to  you?" 

"  Why,  what  has  got  into  the  girl  ?"  said  Arundel,  tired  of 
this  foolery.  "  I  prithee  no  more,  sweet  Prudence,  but  conduct 
me  at  once  to  Eveline.  Consider  how  long  it  is  since  I  saw 
her." 

"  Nay,  an'  you  come  to  calling  me  sweet,  there  is  no  resisting 
you.  I  do  love  sweet  things,  and  it  is  pleasant  to  be  called  sweet 
by  some  persons.  I  will  delay  you  no  longer,"  she  added,  re 
suming  her  natural  manner,  "  since  Mistress  Eveline  must  by 
this  time  have  made  up  her  toilette.  So,  please  you,  follow  me.' ' 


840  THE  KNIGHT  OP  THE  GOLDEN   MELICE. 

So  saying,  she  tripped  forward,  and  ushered  Arundel  into  a 
room,  where  we  have  already  seen  him,  and  retired.  Almost  in 
stantly,  the  beautiful  Eveline  came  in  with  a  smile  upon  her  lips 
and  a  blush  on  her  cheeks,  for  from  her  room,  the  door  of 
which  was  open  in  that  warm  season,  she  had  overheard  the 
whole  conversation,  as  indeed  Prudence  had  intended  she  should. 

"  A  strange  way,  Miles,"  she  said,  biting  her  red  lips  to  re 
strain  a  laugh,  "  to  show  the  devotedness  of  your  affection  to  the 
mistress  by  kissing  the  maid.  Is  it  a  fashion  taught  thee  by  the 
savages  ?" 

Arundel,  notwithstanding  the  words  of  Eveline,  could  not  dis 
cover  much  severity  either  in  the  tones  of  her  voice  or  the 
glances  of  her  eyes,  for  those  were  days  when  scarcely  so  great  a 
delicacy  of  manners  prevailed  as  in  the  present;  and,  catching 
her  to  his  bosom,  he  found  little  difficulty  in  obtaining  pardon 
for  his  fault. 

"  Ah,  you  know,  Miles,"  said  Eveline,  withdrawing  herself 
from  his  embrace,  "  that  a  maiden  who  scolds  her  lover  has  more 
than  half  forgiven  him  already." 

It  is  unnecessary  to  dwell  upon  the  particulars  of  a  meeting, 
which,  even  without  experience  of  like  scenes,  the  imagination  will 
suggest,  and  which,  lacking  the  spice  of  personal  interest,  might 
appear  tame,  even  to  those  whose  recollection  of  early  emotions 
still  has  power  to  send  the  blood  with  a  livelier  glow  through  the 
heart.  From  his  conversation  with  Eveline,  the  apprehensions 
in  regard  to  Sir  Christopher,  which  began  to  invade  the  mind  of 
Arundel,  were  increased,  although  his  fears  were  of  an  indefinite 
character.  Without  being  able  to  determine  exactly  what  were 
the  accusations  against  the  Knight,  of  one  thing  at  least  he  be 
came  certain — that  they  were  commonly  considered  of  too  serious 
a  nature  to  be  passed  by  in  silence  ;  that  any  services  would 
hardly  screen  him  from  censure  or  punishment  of  some  sort,  if 
they  were  proved ;  and  that  Spikeman  was  exerting  his  malig 
nity  against  him  to  an  extraordinary  degree. 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.  341 

Upon  leaving  Eveline,  Arundel  meditated  on  the  conduct  he 
ought  to  adopt,  whether  to  remain  and  await  the  arrival  of 
Sir  Christopher  on  the  next  day,  as  he  originally  intended,  or 
to  return  and  inform  him  of  what  he  had  learned.  That  some  ca 
lamity  threatened  his  friend,  was  plain.  "What  it  was,  was  not  so 
evident.  The  only  cause  of  complaint  against  him  he  could  dis 
cern,  was  a  supposed  connection  with  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges. 
On  this  point  he  knew  that  Winthrop  and  his  council  were  ex 
tremely  sensitive,  warmly  resenting  the  claim  which  that  gentle 
man  made,  and  was  trying  to  prosecute  in  England,  adverse  to 
their  patent,  which  he  declared  was  void,  and  determined  to 
punish  whoever  should  assert  the  title  of  Sir  Ferdinando  as  su 
perior  to  their  own,  or  should  in  any  respect  countenance  or  abet 
him  in  his  schemes.  As  for  other  intimations,  Arundel  consid 
ered  them  as  only  additions,  which  stories,  like  rolling  snow 
balls,  naturally  receive  in  their  progress,  and  which,  in  the  present 
instance,  deserved  even  less  credit  than  usual,  on  account  of  their 
vagueness  and  improbability.  What  motive  could  there  be,  for 
example,  to  induce  Sir  Christopher  to  arrogate  a  title  which  did 
not  belong  to  him,  when  there  was  every  chance  of  detection, 
and  no  important  advantage  to  be  gained  ?  He  had  never  no 
ticed  in  the  Knight  any  assumption  of  superiority,  but,  on  the 
contrary,  rather  a  careless  cordiality,  amounting  almost  to  bon- 
hommie.  Everything  which  he  had  seen  about  his  friend  forbade 
the  supposition.  From  the  baselessness  of  this,  he  inferred  the 
falsity  of  all  other  charges,  whatever  they  might  be ;  and  yet, 
notwithstanding  his  conviction  of  the  innocence  of  his  friend, 
it  appeared  to  him  that  information  of  the  disposition  of 
Dudley  ought  to  be  made  known  to  Sir  Christopher,  in  order  to 
enable  him  to  decide  for  himself  upon  the  steps  necessary  to  be 
taken,  before  he  should  be  assailed  unawares.  Having  arrived 
at  this  conclusion,  Arundel  lost  no  time  in  hurrying  off  to  the 
residence  of  the  Knight. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

"  Ah  !  home  let  him  speed,  for  the  spoiler  is  nigh  ! 
"Why  flaraes  the  far  summit  ?    Why  shoot  to  the  blast 
Those  embers,  like  stars  from  the  firmanent  cast  ?" 

CAMPBIU'S  "  Lochiel." 

As  ARUNDEL  left  the  hostelry,  whither  he  had  returned  after 
his  snap-chance,  he  observed  the  figure  of  a  man,  whom  he  had 
seen  several  times  during  the  day,  standing  at  a  distance  in  the 
street.  Unless  his  suspicions  had  been  excited,  he  would  proba- 
bably  have  paid  no  attention  to  the  circumstance ;  but,  in  the 
present  condition  of  his  mind,  he  could  not  avoid  connecting  the 
man's  frequent  appearance  with  himself.  It  seemed,  indeed,  as 
if  his  motions  were  watched,  though  why,  he  knew  not.  In  or 
der  to  satisfy  himself  whether  it  were  so,  he  stopped  when  he 
reached  the  edge  of  the  forest,  and,  concealing  himself,  waited 
for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  whether  he  were  followed  ;  but, 
after  remaining  some  time  without  seeing  any  person,  he  con 
cluded  that  he  must  be  mistaken,  and  more  leisurely  resumed  his 
walk. 

The  day  had  been  one  of  exceeding  warmth,  which  circum 
stance,  in  connection  with  the  excitement  he  had  passed  through, 
produced  an  exhaustion  that  indisposed  the  young  man  to  exer 
tion.  In  consequence  of  this,  it  was  at  a  slow  pace  he  pro 
ceeded,  imagining  any  haste  unnecessary,  and  esteeming  it  a 
matter  of  indifference  at  what  hour  he  reached  his  destination. 


344  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

Hence  it  happened  that  the  evening  was]considerably  advanced 
before  he  had  passed  over  half  the  distance  which  he  had  to  go. 
He  had  advanced  as  far  as  the  spot  where  he  encountered  the 
panther,  and  was  thinking  of  his  peril  then,  and  of  Sassacus, 
when  he  suddenly  found  himself  surrounded  by  a  number  of 
armed  men,  one  of  whom  demanded  his  piece.  Arundel  instantly 
recognised  in  the  man  who  spoke,  and  appeared  to  be  the  leader, 
the  Assistant  Spikeman  ;  and,  suspecting  mischief  wherever  he 
was  conterned,  and  indignant  at  being  stopped,  refused  to  deliver 
up  the  gun.  The  refusal  jWas  useless,  for  it  was  forthwith 
wrested  violently  from  his  hands,  after  a  struggle,  in  which  he 
gave  and  received  some  unimportant  hurts. 

"What  means  this  outrage,  Master  Spikeman,"  demanded 
Arundel,  "on  one  in  the  king's  peace,  and  quietly  about  his  own 
business1?" 

"  We  desire  your  company,"  replied  Spikeman.  "  It  is  out  of 
our  abundant  affection  'therefor  that  we  have  been  so  bold,  and 
in  consideration  of  the  motive,  we  pray  you  to  pardon  the 
offence." 

"  This  is  insulting  one  who  is  unable  to  defend  himself,"  an 
swered  the  young  man ;  "  but  be  sure,  Master  Spikeman,  that 
for  this,  and  other  like  favors,  a  day  of  bitter  reckoning  will 
come." 

"  Spare  thy  threats,  beardless  boy,"  said  the  Assistant,  "  and 
know  that  what  I  do  is  not  without  warrant.  Thy  wisdom  con 
sists  in  submission,  for  thou  seest  we  have  a  force  thou  art  una 
ble  to  resist.  But  I  may  not  waste  further  words.  Place  the 
prisoner  in  the  middle;  watch  him  closely;  treat  him  well,  if 
submissive  ;  but  should  he  attempt  escape,  shoot  him  down. 
Forward !" 

After  these  orders,  the  men  started  on,  taking  Arundel  with 
them,  who  entertained  no  purpose^of  flight,  even  though  a  favor 
able  opportunity  should  present  itself. 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.      845 

If  he  had  doubted  at  first  whither  the  party  were  directing 
their  steps,  the  doubt  was  soon  dissipated,  and  he  became  sure 
that  it  was  to  the  habitation  of  Sir  Christopher.  Meanwhile, 
he  had  been  turning  over  in  his  mind  his  observations  through 
the  day,  and  became  satisfied  that  he  had  been  watched,  and 
that  the  band  by  which  he  had  been  captured  was  sent  after 
him,  and,  by  taking  a  course  somewhat  different  from  his 
own,  and  hastening  their  speed,  had  succeeded  in  throwing 
themselves  in  front,  so  as  to  cut  him  off  from  the  Knight's 
house,  whither  they  rightly  judged  he  was  going.  The  determi 
nation  was  obvious,  he  thought,  that,  for  the  present,  there 
should  be  no  communication  between  Sir  Christopher  and 
himself. 

Rapidly  and  in  silence  the  party  pushed  on,  until  they  came 
to  the  small  clearing  surrounding  the  Knight's  house.  Here 
they  halted,  and  Spikeman  placed  his  men  around  the  open 
space  so  as  completely  to  surround  it,  with  orders  for  half  01 
their  number  to  advance  simultaneously  toward  the  centre,  while 
the  others  remained  in  the  shadow  of  the  wood.  The  manoeuvre 
was  so  skilfully  executed,  that  it  was  impossible  for  any  one 
within  the  house  to  escape — the  men  composing  the  circle,  meet 
ing  at  the  same  moment  at  the  centre. 

The  deep  silence  of  the  night  was  first  interrupted  by  the 
noise  the  Assistant  made  on  the  door  with  the  handle  of  his 
dagger. 

"  Who  is  there  ?"  inquired  the  drowsy  voice  of  one  as  if  just 
awakened. 

"  A  person  demanding  admission,"  answered  Spikeman. 

"  I  know  that,  else  would  you  not  be  knocking.  Very  well ; 
abide  a  moment  till  I  don  some  clothing  and  I  will  open,  when 
we  will  become  better  acquainted." 

Accordingly,  in  a  few  moments  the  door  was  opened,  and 
Spikeman,  with  half  a  dozen  men,  rushed  into  the  house,  leaving 

15 


346      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDKN  MELICE. 

the  others  to  guard  the  exterior.  Philip  Joy  (for  it  was  he) 
was  instantly  seized,  and  ordered  to  tell  where  the  Knight  was  to 
be  found. 

"  It  is  easier  to  ask  questions  than  to  get  answers,"  said  Philip. 
«*  For  me,  I  never  could  speak  plain  till  I  had  been  awake  a  half 
hour  or  so." 

"  Sirrah  !"  cried  Spikeman,  sternly  ;  "  trifle  not,  or  I  will  have 
thee  scourged  within  sight  of  the  gates  of  death.  Answer — where 
is  Sir  Christopher  Gardiner  ?" 

"  An'  I  knew  I  would  not  tell  thee,"  replied  Philip.  "  Make 
no  ugly  faces  at  me,  Master  Spikeman,  for  it  is  of  no  use.  Look 
for  yourself,  an'  you  like." 

"  He  cannot  avoid  us,  if  he  be  in  the  house,"  said  Spikeman, 
turning  away.  "  Here,  Ephraim,"  he  added,  addressing  one  of 
the  men ;  "  come  thou  with  me.  We  will  waste  no  more  words 
with  this  fellow,  but  see  whither  this  door  leads." 

"  Stop  !"  exclaimed  Philip ;  "  it  is  the  passage  to  the  chamber 
of  the  Lady  Geraldine." 

'  "Forward!  Ephraim,"  cried  Spikeman;  "we  cannot  be  de 
layed  in  this  way.     Heed  not  his  clamor." 

By  the  light  of  the  tallow  candles,  which  they  had  brought 
with  them,  the  two  proceeded,  in  spite  of  the  remonstrances  of 
the  soldier.  The  door  admitting  into  the  larger  apartment  of  the 
lady,  and  into  which  we  were  introduced  at  our  first  acquaint 
ance  with  her,  was  open,  but  the  inner  door  to  her  own  private 
chamber  was  barred.  A  slight  rustling  was  heard  within,  as 
they  listened,  as  of  one  putting  on  clothing. 

"  We  have  tracked  the  fox  to  his  den,"  whispered  Spikeman. 
"  Open  instantly,"  he  added,  aloud,  "  or  we  will  burst  in  the 
door." 

"  Who  are  ye,"  inquired  a  woman's  voice,  "  who,  in  the  dead 
of  night,  assail  the  rest  of  innocent  folk  ?" 

"  Open  at  once,"  cried  Spikeman,  impatiently,  "  or  we  will 
tear  down  the  houie." 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  847 

"  I  will  not  open,"  said  the  voice.  "  That  were  to  assist  you 
in  your  lawless  proceedings.  I  may  be  murdered,  but  will  lend 
no  aid  to  my  murderers." 

•'  Silly  woman,"  said  the  Assistant,  who  felt  unwilling  to  re 
sort  to  violence  with  a  woman,  believing  that  his  prey  was  per 
fectly  secure  within — "  silly  woman,  we  are  no  murderers.  I 
require  thee,  by  authority  of  the  Commonwealth,  to  unbar  the 
door." 

"  Ye  cannot  be  officers  of  the  State,"  answered  the  woman? 
"  else  would  ye  not  proceed  thus  rudely.  Ye  are  robbers  and 
assassins." 

"  We  must  not  stand  here  trifling,"  said  Spikeman.  "  Throw 
thyself  against  the  door,  Ephraim,  and  burst  it  in,  since  we  are 
resisted." 

His  companion,  accordingly,  endeavored,  by  flinging  the  whole 
weight  of  his  person  against  the  barrier,  wherein  he  was  assisted 
by  his  superior,  to  break  it  down  ;  but  in  vain,  the  stout  planks 
defeating  all  their  efforts. 

"  Bring  an  axe,  quickly !"  cried  Spikeman.  "  We  will  try  the 
virtue  of  steel  blows." 

Under  the  repeated  strokes  of  the  axe,  wielded  by  brawny 
arms,  the  strong  door  presently  fell  with  a  crash  into  the  room, 
and  stepping  over  its  fragments,  the  assailants  stood  in  the  pre 
sence  of  the  occupants.  By  a  taper,  which  was  burning  on  a 
small  table,  the  apartment  was  sufficiently  lighted  to  make  all 
objects  visible,  though  indistinctly. 

The  dimensions  of  the  room  could  not  exceed  a  square  of 
twelve  feet.  The  sides,  which  rose  to  a  height  of  perhaps  eight 
feet,  were  hung  all  around  with  a  black  cloth,  and  overhead  the 
same  covering  was  extended.  The  furniture  consisted  of  only  a 
chair  or  two,  and  of  the  table  above  mentioned,  In  the  centre 
stood  the  tall  form  of  sister  Celestina,  clothed  in  garments  as 
black  as  the  drapery  which  surrounded  her,  and  holding  by  the 


848  THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

hand,  the  little  Indian  girl  Neebin.  Without  stopping  to  notice 
them,  Spikeman  and  Ephraim  immediately  commenced  searching, 
with  drawn  rapiers,  behind  the  hangings.  The  cloth,  on  being 
withdrawn,  exposed  to  view  nothing  but  unhewn  logs,  and  a 
recess  of  a  few  feet,  containing  a  rude  couch.  During  the  search, 
which  was  soon  completed,  the  lady  remained  standing,  with  the 
little  girl  by.  her  side,  viewing  the  proceedings  in  silence,  and 
with  an  air  of  offended  dignity. 

"What  seek  ye?"  she  demanded,  when,  with  looks  of  disap 
pointment,  the  men  desisted.  "  Tell  me,  that  I  may  render  you 
that  assistance  whereof  ye  seem  to  stand  in  need." 

"  Madam,"  answered  Spikeman,  "  where  is  Sir  Christopher 
Gardiner  ?  It  is  him  we  seek." 

"  And  is  it  in  my  sleeping  apartment,  audacious  wretch,  that 
you  expect  to  find  him  ?"  exclaimed  the  lady.  "  Your  question 
is  a  greater  insult  than  your  violence." 

"  Madam,"  replied  the  Assistant,  "  it  behooves  you  to  be 
careful  of  your  language.  Ephraim,"  he  added,  turning  to  his 
companion,  "  do  thou  inquire  without,  whether  the  Knight  be 
taken.  He  may  have  leaped  from  the  window." 

Upon  Ephraim's  departure,  Spikeman  again  addressed  the 
lady. 

"  Madam,"  he  said,  "  I  know  that  the  work  wherein  I  am 
engaged  is  ungracious.  Sad  is  the  necessity  which  compels  me 
to  invade  the  retirement  of  a  lady  whom  I  hold  in  all  honor  and 
respect,  and  who  has  it  in  her  power  to  make  our  whole  Com 
monwealth  her  grateful  debtors." 

"  Speak  quickly,  sir,"  said  the  lady,  "  that  I  may  the  sooner 
be  rid  of  your  intrusive  presence." 

"  You  know  me  not,  madam,  nor  my  kind  intentions,  else 
would  you  not  indulge  this  scorn." 

"  If  to  break  open  the  house  of  a  defenceless  woman  at  mid 
night,  to  batter  down  the  door  of  her  chamber,  to  intrude  therein, 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.      349 

and  to  insult  her,  besides,  with  base  suspicions,  be  your  kindness, 
what  must  be  your  cruelty  ?" 

"  Necessity,  madam — necessity  must  be  our  excuse.  We  will 
have  Sir  Christopher  Gardiner,  dead  or  alive.  Judge  by  the  im 
portance  which  we  attach  to  his  capture,  how  great  will  be  our 
gratitude,  and  the  reward  of  him  who  shall  enable  us  to  lay 
hands  on  the  traitor." 

"  He  is  no  traitor,  base  slanderer.  Thou  hadst  never  dared 
to  utter  these  injurious  words  in  his  presence." 

"  I  would  he  were  in  presence,"  said  Spikeman,  sternly,  "  and 
you  would  soon  be  convinced  of  the  contrary.  But  more  plainly, 
madam.  Let  me  entreat  you,  for  your  own  sake,  to  disclose  the 
hiding-place  of  this  man,  and  to  deliver  to  me  his  papers,  for  only 
by  so  doing  can  you  escape  severe  and  dreadful  punishment." 

A  deeper  pallor  overspread  the  pale  face  of  the  lady,  but  re 
covering  herself  she  said — 

"  If  I  understand  thee  aright,  thou  dost  seek  to  make  me  an 
accomplice  of  thy  crime." 

"  It  is  no  crime,  but  an  acceptable  deed,  to  deliver  a  criminal 
to  justice,  to  suffer  for  his  deserts.  On  such  conditions,  and  on 
such  only,  can  I  promise  immunity  for  thyself." 

"Justice  !  I  trust  not  the  justice  of  a  State,  where  such  as 
thou  bear  rule.  Ye  know  not  the  meaning  of  the  word.  Sacred 
heaven !  what  would  you  have  me  do  ?  Betray  into  your  toils 
an  innocent  man,  that  I  may  avoid,  I  know  not  what  consequen 
ces  !  Infamous  tempter,  I  spurn  thee !  And  know,  that  were  I 
capable  of  such  inexpressible  shame,  I  could  not  commit  it.  I 
know  not  where  is  Sir  Christopher." 

But,  evidently,  Spikeman  placed  no  confidence  in  the  denial. 
He  strode  across  the  room,  as  though  reflecting  on  some  subject, 
and  then  stepping  up  to  the  lady,  bent  over,  and  whispered  some 
inaudible  words  into  her  ear. 

"  It  is  false.     Holy  Virgin  !"  she  exclaimed,  forgetting  herself 


850  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

in  the  excitement  of  feeling,  "  must  I  bear  this  ?  Leave  me ! 
leave  me !  Rid  me  of  your  hateful  presence  !  The  room  is  full 
of  horrid  shapes  since  you  came  in." 

"  Ha  !  madam,"  cried  Spikeman,  "  you  have  betrayed  your 
self,  I  have  your  secret,  and  will  find  means  to  force  you  to 
speak  the  truth,  ere  I  am  quit  of  you,"  and  scowling  malignantly, 
he  left  the  apartment. 

The  excitement  which  had  hitherto  sustained  the  lady,  seemed 
now  to  desert  her,  and  she  sunk  upon  a  seat.  Sobs  broke  from 
her  bosom,  and  tears,  which  she  vainly  tried  to  restrain,  streamed 
down  her  cheeks. 

"  O,  holy  Virgin,"  she  murmured — "  immaculate  lady,  whose 
heart  was  pierced  with  so  many  sorrows,  help  me  to  bear  my 
own.  This  is  the  sorest  trial  of  all.  Without  thy  preventing 
grace,  divine  Mary,  I  shall  sink  under  it.  Intercede  with  thy 
dear  son  for  me." 

The  little  Indian  girl,  who,  during  the  whole  time  while  Spike 
man  remained,  had  stood  by  the  lady's  side,  showing  no  appre 
hension  whatever,  but  listening  attentively  to  every  word,  and 
following  each  motion  with  her  keen  eyes,  now  kneeled  down  by 
the  lady,  and  looking  into  her  face,  said — 

"  Do  not  cry,  lady.  Owanux  have  not  found  the  book  with 
the  pretty  pictures,  nor  the  man  with  the  sweet  face,  with  his 
eyes  shut,  and  his  head  falling  on  one  side,  upon  his  shoulder, 
who  makes  Neebin  feel  like  crying  when  she  looks  at  him  ;  and 
Sir  Christopher  is  gone  away,  so  that  they  cannot  catch  him." 

"  Dear  Neebin,"  said  the  lady,  "  thine  are  timely  words  of 
consolation.  Out  of  the  mouth  of  babes  and  sucklings,"  she 
added,  looking  up,  "  dost  thou  ordain  strength.  I  will  be  grate 
ful  for  these  mercies,  nor  allow  a  weakness  to  overcome  me 
again." 

The  lady  now,  with  more  care,  adjusted  her  garments,  which, 
when  wakened  by  the  noise  made  at  the  entrance  of  the  band 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  ME  LICE.  851 

into  the  house,  she  had  hastily  thrown  on,  and  smoothed  down 
the  hair  that,  without  a  curl,  lay  on  her  temples.  She  paid  the 
same  attention  to  Neebin,  and  then,  crossing  her  hands,  sat  down 
to  await  what  should  follow. 

"  Has  any  thing  been  heard  or  seen  of  him  whom  we  seek  ?" 
demanded  Spikeman  of  a  soldier,  as  he  entered  the  room  wherein 
he  had  left  Joy. 

"  Nothing,  so  please  you,"  answered  the  man ;  "  and  Philip 
here  says  that  our  search  will  be  bootless,  for  that  he  is  not  in 
the  house." 

"  A  fine  soldier  thou,  and  a  shrewd,"  said  Spikeman,  contempt 
uously,  "  tj  trust  what  a  prisoner  may  say !  Call  me  Lieutenant 
Venn." 

The  soldier  went  out,  and  presently  returned  with  the  lieuten 
ant. 

"  Hast  thou  discovered  nothing  on  thy  watch  on  the  outside  ?" 
inquired  Spikeman. 

"  We  invested  the  building  so  closely,"  answered  Venn,  "  that 
had  a  mouse  attempted  to  run  away,  we  had  seen  and  captured 
it ;  but  no  sound  has  broken  the  silence,  nor  aught  met  our 
sight"  . 

"  Has  the  whole  interior  been  thoroughly  searched1?" 

"  But  short  time  does  it  require  to  unshell  the  kernel  of  a  nut 
like  this,"  returned  the  officer,  looking  round ;  "  and  Cowlson  re 
ports  to  me  that  everything  in  it,  save  in  the  woman's  quarters, 
(which  his  modesty  did  not  permit  him  to  search,)  is  as  well  known 
to  him  as  the  contents  of  his  own  cabin." 

"  I  fear  that  the  principal  object  of  our  undertaking  is  de 
feated,"  said  Spikeman,  with  a  look  of  disappointment. 

"  Yea,"  said  the  officer,  "  the  prey  hath  escaped  even  as  a 
bird  from  the  snare.  What  is  to  be  done  now,  seeing  that  Sir 
Christopher  is  not  to  be  found  ?" 

Spikeman  did  not  hesitate,  for  he  had  been  considering  the 


852  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE. 

course  to  be  adopted  in  the  contingency,  and  he  therefore 
promptly  answered — 

"  We  have  not  entirely  failed.  We  have  at  least  the  woman, 
and  important  information  may  be  obtained  from  her.  The  hope 
of  working  her  deliverance,  or  of  making  terms  with  us  on  her 
account,  may  also  induce  the  Knight  to  put  himself  in  our 
power." 

"  I  like  not,"  said  Venn,  "  a  foray,  whose  achievement  is  the 
making  prisoners  of  Miles  Arundel,  of  honest  Philip,  and  of  a 
sorrowful-looking  woman.  Meseems  it  redounds  but  little  to  the 
credit  of  a  file  of  twenty  men." 

"I  understand  not,"  continued  Spikeman,  as  though  there- 
mark  failed  to  reach  him,  "  by  what  means  the  man  was  apprised 
of  our  design.  Or  it  may  be,  that,  by  mere  chance,  he  is  absent ; 
for  some  evil  purpose,  doubtless.  It  will,  however,  avail  him 
nothing,  for  sooner  or  later  he  must  fall  into  our  net.  I  have 
lingered  in  the  hope  that  he  might  return  and  be  caught  by  the 
men  on  the  margin  of  the  wood — a  hope  I  give  not  up  yet,  and, 
therefore,  perhaps  it  were  better  to  wait  awhile." 

"I  pray  you,  sir,"  said  Lieutenant  Venn,  "  to  do  me  a  pleasure 
in  one  thing.  Delay  not  our  departure  until  it  be  so  late  that 
the  sun  is  risen  when  we  enter  Boston.  I  confess  to  some  shame 
on  account  of  this  night's  work,  and  desire  that  what  was  begun 
in  darkness  may  be  ended  in  like  manner." 

"  What  fanciful  follies  be  these  ?"  said  Spikeman.  "  Art  thou 
degraded  by  any  service  which  promotes  the  interests  of  the 
Commonwealth  ?" 

"  Nevertheless,  be  it  a  fanciful  folly  or  grave  wisdom,  I  will 
take  the  liberty  to  iterate  the  request,  and  will  hold  myself  in 
debted  if  it  be  granted." 

"Surely,"  said  Spikeman,  "it  is  a  light  thing,  and  because 
you  wish  it,  it  shall  be  done.  Call  in  the  men  from  the  margin 
of  the  clearing,  and  we  will  begin  preparations  for  return." 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   FELICE.  353 

Let  no  surprise  be  felt  at  the  character  of  the  conversation 
betwixt  the  superior  and  inferior  officer,  and  at  the  influence 
exercised  by. the  latter  over  the  former.  The  men  under  the  com 
mand  of  the  Assistant  for  the  occasion  were  not  regular  soldiers 
but  ordinary  citizens  ;  liable,  it  is  true,  to  be  called  out  at  any 
moment  to  do  military  duty  whenever  an  exigency  arose,  but 
without  bein?  subject  to  any  very  strict  discipline.  The  most  of 
them  were  voters,  and  hence  a  source  of  power,  and  therefore  to 
be  courted  by  any  one  ambitious  of  political  distinction.  Such 
an  one  was  the  Assistant,  and  he  stood  in  about  the  same  rela 
tion  to  his  men  that  a  modern  militia  captain,  who  is  desirous  of 
civil  office,  does  to  his  company  of  soldiers,  and  who,  through  fear 
of  giving  offence  and  so  losing  the  object  of  his  aspirations,  is 
obliged  to  relax  the  strictness  of  military  rule." 

On  receiving  the  order,  Lieutenant  Venn  started  off  to  execute  it, 
and,  as  soon  as  he  was  gone,  Spikeman  took  Ephraim  Pike  aside. 

"Ephraim,"  he  said,  "  the  badger  may  lie  hid  in  some  cunning 
place  of  concealment  in  the  house,  and  after  all  laugh  at  our 
simplicity  at  our  departure  without  him." 

"  That  can  hardly  be,"  said  Pike.  "  The  house  has  been  thor 
oughly  searched,  and  I  would  pledge  my  life  the  Knight  is  not  in 
it." 

"  Verily  thou  mayest  be  right,  yet  is  there  a  possibility  of  mis 
take.  Ephraim,  with  our  hands  on  the  .plough,  we  will  not  look 
back.  We  must  burn  this  nest  of  hornets,  and  should  the  Knight 
of  the  Melice  be  burned  with  it,  there  will  be  no  harm  done." 

"I  suppose,"  said  Ephraim,  rather  sulkily,  "this  is  a  service 
you  want  to  put  on  my  shoulders,  but  an'  you  wish  to  burn  the 
house,  you  can  burn  it  yourself." 

"  That  can  I  not  do,"  answered  Spikeman.  "  The  thing  must 
be  done  secretly,  so  that  it  may  appear  the  consequence  of  some 
accident.  Were  I  to  absent  myself  I  should  be  missed,  but  thou 
canst  do  it  without  suspicion." 

15* 


354      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

"  And  suppose  it  done,  what  then  ?"  asked  Pike. 

"  Thou  shalt  have  a  gold  piece  for  that  which  costs  thee  but 
little  trouble  and  no  risk." 

"  How  shall  it  be  done  ?" 

"  I  will  presently  take  all  the  inmates  of  the  cabin  with  us  on 
our  return.  After  we  have  gone  a  few  rods,  do  thou  retrace  thy 
steps  and  fire  the  building,  and  hurry  back  immediately." 

"  But  should  I  be  missed  1" 

"  There  is  little  probability  of  that ;  but  thou  knowest  me, 
Ephraim,  and  can  be  certain  that  I  will  be  able  to  account  satis 
factorily  therefor  should  it  happen." 

"  Yea,  I  do  know  thee,"  said  Ephraim  to  himself,  "  for  as  cun 
ning  a  one  as  Beelzebub  himself ;  but  thou  hast  never  failed  me, 
and  I  will  trust  thee  yet  again.  I  will  do  the  thing,"  he  said 
aloud,  "  since  thy  mind  is  set  thereon ;  but  it  rubs  mightily  against 
the  grain." 

"  Thou  shalt  not  repent  it,"  replied  Spikeman.  "  We  are  in 
some  sort  confederates,  and  our  fates  are  so  interwoven  that  thy 
fortunes  depend  on  mine." 

With  these  prophetic  words  the  Assistant  left  his  co-adjutor, 
and  returning  to  the  apartment  of  the  lady,  requested  her  to  pre 
pare  herself  and  the  Indian  child  to  accompany  him.  She  made 
no  reply,  and,  on  his  departure,  sat  some  little  time  pondering 
what  it  became  her  to  do  ;  after  which,  she  rose  and  prepared 
some  articles  of  clothing. 

Spikeman  soon  re-appeared,  and  directing  one  of  his  soldiers 
to  carry  the  clothing,  begged  the  lady  to  follow  him.  This  she 
did  without  objection,  holding  the  girl  by  the  hand,  and  appear 
ing  indifferent  to  all  that  happened.  She  found  Arundel  and 
Joy,  with  a  number  of  strange  persons,  in  the  largest  room  of 
the  building,  preparing  for  departure.  The  countenances  of  the 
two  men  expressed  the  indignation  which  they  felt,  but  they  were 
obliged  to  content  themselves  with  the  offer  of  such  services,  as 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  855 

their  situation  permitted.  This  the  lady  graciously  acknowl 
edged  in  a  few  words,  but  seemed  more  inclined  to  indulge  in  her 
own  private  thoughts  than  to  encourage  any  conversation.  They 
all  left  the  house  together,  and,  when  in  the  open  air,  were  com 
mitted  to  the  special  guard  of  half  a  dozen  of  the  party,  who 
composed  the  centre ;  and,  in  this  order,  led  by  Spikeman,  the 
cavalcade  commenced  their  march.  They  had  proceeded  at  a 
slow  pace,  on  account  of  the  females,  and  in  silence,  broken  only 
by  an  occasional  question  and  answer,  for  perhaps  half  an  hour, 
when  one  of  the  men  observed  that  either  the  moon  had  risen  or 
the  morning  was  breaking. 

"  There  is  no  moon,  Cowlson,"  said  a  soldier ;  "  nor,  accord 
ing  to  my  reckoning,  can  it  be  much  past  midnight.  The  light 
ye  see  comes  from  the  North ;  and,  an'  it  were  winter,  I  should 
think  it  was  the  shooting  of  the  Northern  lights." 

"  These  be  no  Northern  lights,  nor  Southern,  nor  moon,  nor 
morning,"  said  another.  "  An'  it  be  not  a  fire,  my  name  is  not 
Job  Bloyce." 

"  How  can  it  be  a  fire  ?"  said  Ephraim  Pike,  who  had  con 
trived  to  join  the  band  without  his  absence  being  noticed,  after 
accomplishing  his  purpose.  "  There  is  nothing  in  that  direction 
but  the  house  we  just  left,  and  sure  it  cannot  be  that." 

"  I  know  not,"  said  Spikeman.  "  It  may  be  the  work  of  the 
desperate  man  whom  we  failed  to  take,  and  who  has  done  the 
deed,  in  order  to  throw  disgrace  in  some  sort  on  us." 

"  That  is  a  strange  supposition,"  said  Lieutenant  Venn.  "  A 
man  would  hardly  be  likely  to  destroy  his  own  property." 

"  Not  without  some  malicious  design,  I  grant  ye  ;  but  that 
were  motive  sufficient  with  Sir  Christopher.  Besides,  what  is  it 
he  would  burn  up  but  a  heap  of  old  logs,  whose  whole  value 
could  scarcely  exceed  ten  pounds?" 


356      THE  KNG1HT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

By  this  time  the  fire  had  gained  such  an  ascendancy  over  the 
building,  as  to  throw  a  light  which  could  no  longer  be  mistaken, 
and  all  were  satisfied  that  it  must  proceed  from  the  habitation  of 
the  Knight.  The  majority  of  the  men  adopted,  without  reflec 
tion,  the  idea  thrown  out  by  the  wily  Assistant,  but  there  were 
others  who  were  unable  to  satisfy  themselves  as  easily. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

When  the  King  of  Tars  saw  that  sight, 
Wood  he  was  for  wrath  aplight : 

In  hand  he  hent  a  spear, 
And  to  the  Soudan  he  rode  full  right ; 
With  a  dunt  of  much  might, 

Adown  he  gan  him  bear. 

OLD  ENGLISH  METRICAL  ROMANCE. 

ONLY  the  accidental  absence  of  the  Knight  saved  him  from  the 
indignity  to  which  his  household  was  subjected.  Well  were  the 
measures  of  his  enemies  taken,  and  the  time  chosen,  for  it  was 
reasonable  to  suppose,  that  after  so  long  a  journey,  he  would  cer 
tainly  be  found  at  his  domicile  the  first  night.  His  erratic  habits 
were  well  known,  and  it  was  this  knowledge  which  induced  the 
choice  of  the  time  for  the  arrest,  and  indeed  had  assisted  to 
deepen  suspicions,  in  a  suspicious  community,  against  him.  It 
would  not  have  suited  the  purposes  of  Spikeman  to  wait,  and 
thus  afford  the  Knight  an  opportunity  to  present  himself  in  town. 
He  chose  to  bring  in  Sir  Christopher  as  a  criminal,  knowing  that 
having  committed  his  associates  thus  far,  to  an  act  of  violence, 
they  would  not  be  likely  to  rest  until  they  had  expelled  Sir 
Christopher  from  the  colony. 

At  the  time  Spikeman  was  rifling  his  house,  and  injuriously 
treating  its  inmates,  the  Knight,  unsuspicious  of  harm,  was  lying 
in  the  wigwam  of  Sassacus,  which  was  distant  but  a  mile  or  two 
from  his  own  residence.  Lying  on  his  side,  with  his  head  sup 
ported  on  one  hand  by  the  elbow  resting  on  the  ground,  he  was 


358     THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

addressing  the  Sagamore,  who,  seated  in  Indian  fashion,  with  the 
soothing  pipe  at  his  lips,  was  listening  to  his  discourse.  A  flick 
ering  fire  sent  up  now  and  then  a  bright  flame,  by  means  of 
which  the  two  became  ever  and  anon  more  distinctly  discernible 
to  each  other,  while  in  the  intervals,  there  was  only  light  enough 
to  distinguish  the  outlines  of  their  persons.  Even  through  the 
studied  apathy  of  the  Pequot,  it  was  obvious  that  the  subject 
possessed  considerable  interest  for  him,  for  occasionally  he  would 
remove  his  pipe  from  his  mouth,  and  gaze  fixedly  on  the  ground, 
as  if  lost  in  profound  thought. 

"  Wonderful,  O  chief,"  he  said,  after  the  Knight  had  ceased 
speaking,  "  are  the  things  which  thou  hast  told,  and  I  believe, 
because  the  white  men  are  very  strange,  and  I  have  never  caught 
thee  in  a  lie.  Truly,  as  thou  sayest,  are  the  red  men  children, 
and  the  white  men  exceed  them  in  wisdom,  even  as  the  beaver 
the  wolf.  The  wise  beaver  is  warm  in  his  lodge,  when  the  wolf 
howls  for  hunger  and  cold  in  the  forest.  The  white  man  is  the 
beaver,  and  the  red  man  the  wolf.  The  Great  Spirit  made  them 
so,  for  so  it  pleased  him,  and  so  they  must  remain." 

"  Nay,"  said  the  Knight.  "  There  was  a  time  when  the  white 
race  was  like  thine  own,  without  that  knowledge  which  makes 
them  so  powerful." 

"  And  can  the  chief  say  why  the  Great  Spirit  gave  Owanux 
the  wisdom  which  he  denied  to  us  ?" 

"  That  is  a  question  I  cannot  answer,  any  more  than  why  thy 
skin  is  red  and  mine  white ;  but  the  Christian  religion  was  the 
means  whereby  the  change  was  effected." 

"  There  is  but  one  Great  Spirit,  who  made  all  things,"  said 
Sassacus,  solemnly,  "  and  we  worship  him  as  well  as  the  white 
men.  Lightnings  are  the  glances  of  his  eyes;  thunder  is  his 
voice  ;  the  sun  is  the  fire  before  his  lodge,  which  he  extinguishes 
when  he  sleeps,  and  the  moon  and  stars  are  the  sparks  which  fly 
up  into  the  air  when  it  goes  out." 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.      859 

"  Thou  hast  indeed,  in  some  sort,  a  religion,  for  He  hath  not 
left  even  the  most  barbarous  nations  without  some  knowledge  of 
himself,  howbeit  it  is  not  unto  wisdom.  But  it  is  only  with  his 
true  religion  that  he  has  connected  that  acquaintance  with  him 
self,  which  makes  men  to  advance  in  all  that  is  worthy  to  be 
known  here,  and  happy  hereafter." 

"  Our  wise  men  say,"  replied  Sassacus,  "  that  for  the  spirits 
of  brave  and  just  warriors  there  are  happy  hunting  grounds,  far 
away  towards  the  setting  sun,  which  the  Indian  travels  to,  over 
the  white  path  in  the  middle  of  the  sky,  where  deer,  and  elk,  and 
bears  never  fail,  and  where  the  hunter  is  never  tired,  nor  very 
hungry." 

"  Alas  !"  said  the  Knight ;  "  these  are  but  figments  of  the  ima 
gination — fond  dreams  as  unsubstantial  as  morning  mist,  and 
deceitful  as  the  wandering  fire,  which  lures  the  ignorant  traveller 
into  the  morass." 

"  O,  wise  chief,"  said  Sassacus,  "  our  tribes  have  also  their 
traditions,  and  I  know  not  why  they  may  not  be  as  true  as  thine. 
We  do  not  think,  as  your  powahs  teach,  that  our  traditions  come 
from  Hobbamocki,  while  yours  all  proceed  from  the  Master  of 
life." 

"  Hobbamocki  is  thy  name  for  the  Evil  Spirit  ?" 

"  My  brother  has  said  it.  Would  he  like  to  know  how  he  was 
created  1" 

"  I  listen,"  said  the  Knight. 

"  A  long,  long  time  ago,"  said  Sassacus,"  the  Master  of  Life, 
Kiehtan,  went  to  a  large  flat  island,  in  order  to  complete  his  wcrk 
of  creation.  He  there  created  a  multitude  of  animals,  some  of 
which  were  so  large  that  he  was  unable  to  control  them.  It  is 
said  that  remains  of  gigantic  beasts  are  still  to  be  found  upon  the 
island,  which  were  never  finished.  It  was  out  of  clay  that 
Kiehtan  formed  the  beasts,  while  the  inferior  manitos  looked  on 
and  rejoiced  in  his  labor.  He  made  in  the  side  of  each  animal 


860  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE    GOLDEN  MELICE. 

an  opening,  whereinto  he  crept,  and  so  warmed  it  into  life.  It 
the  animals  pleased  him  he  permitted  them  to  swim  to  the  great 
pasture  land,  and  to  fill  the  woods  ;  if  they  pleased  him  not,  he 
first  withdrew  the  life,  and  then  turned  them  into  clay  again. 
Once  he  made  so  large  a  beast  that  he  was  afraid  to  give  him  life. 
There  were  also  other  smaller,  to  whom  he  gave  not  life,  because 
he  considered  them  not  useful.  Once  he  made  a  creature,  in  the 
form  of  a  man,  which  he  also  rejected,  but  he  forgot  to  take  the 
life  away  from  him,  and  this  is  the  evil  spirit,  Hobbamocki." 

"  And  thou  believest  this  fable,  as  wild  as  ever  sprung  from 
the  unbridled  license^of  an  Oriental  story-teller'?" 
j$L  "  Sassacus  believes  as  the  wise  men  of  his  nation  believed,  when 
he  was  a  little  pappoose,  and  as  their  fathers  believed,  when  they 
were  papooses,  and  as  his  people  have  always  believed,  for  more 
summers  than  there  are  stars  in  the  sky.  But  do  not  the  white 
men  believe  in  Hobbamocki  ?" 

"  They  do,  though  they  give  him  a  different  name,"  answered 
the  Knight.  "  He  was  a  Great  Spirit,  who  was  expelled  from 
heaven,  or  the  happy  hunting  grounds,  because  of  his  wicked 
ness." 

"  Was  he  not  very  happy  there,  and  had  all  that  he  wanted  1" 
inquired  the  Pequot. 

"  He  was  happy  and  preeminent  above  all  other  manitos  in 
glory  and  power." 

"  How  then  became  he  wicked  1" 

"  That  is  a  question  which  our  wise  men  have  never  been  able 
to  answer.  But  he  envied  the  greatness  of  the  Master  of  Life, 
and  desired  to  occupy  his  place." 

"  Can  your  Hobbamocki  be  in  two  places  at  once  ?" 

"  No.     Being  a  created  spirit,  he  is  limited." 

"  It  cannot  be,  then,  that  he  was  such  a  fool,"  said  the  chief, 
decisively.  "  Behold !  the  Master  of  Life  is  every  where  !  He  is 
like  the  air  and  the  light.  Manitos  are  very  little  things  beside 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN   MELICE.  361 

him,  and  all  together  cannot  fill  his  place.  Your  powahs  have 
deceived  you,  and  told  a  foolish  story  of  their  own  invention. 
No.  Hobbamocki  was  vexed  because  the  Great  Spirit  did  not 
like  him,  and  for  that  reason  tries  to  revenge  himself,  by  troub 
ling  those  whom  the  Great  Spirit  loves." 

"  At  least,"  said  the  Knight,  "  our  two  traditions  agree  in 
this — that  there  is  an  evil  spirit,  who  injures  and  leads  men  into 
wickedness,  and  therein  do  thy  legends  confirm  the  truth  of  the 
Catholic  religion." 

"  Do  the  people  at  Shawmut,  under  Sagamore  Winthrop,  be 
lieve  in  all  things,  as  my  brother?" 

"  Nay.  They  are  heretics,  and  given  over  to  believe  a  lie — from 
whom  this  land  shall  be  taken,  and  bestowed  as  an  heritage  on 
others,  who  shall  be  the  Indians'  friends,  and  they  shall  all  live 
together." 

"  Listen  !  My  brother  has  spoken  of  this  before,  and  Sassacus 
has  thought  much  about  it.  It  seems  to  me  that  when  the  Great 
Spirit  spoke  to  the  white  men,  they  could  not  understand  his 
words,  but  his  voice  was  to  them  like  the  sighing  of  the  wind 
among  the  trees,  or  the  dashing  of  the  green  water  on  the  shore, 
for  they  cannot  agree  about  their  religion.  But  the  ears  of  the 
Indians  were  sharper,  and  they  all  understood  alike,  and  there 
fore  they  do  not  differ  about  what  the  Master  of  Life  said,  and 
they  also  know  better  concerning  Hobbamocki.  Has  not  my 
brother  told  me  that  the  white  men  fight  and  kill  one  another 
about  their  religion"?" 

"  Alas !  it  is  too  true,"  replied  Sir  Christopher. 
"  Indians  never  do  so.  Let  us  do  a  great  thing,"  added  Sas 
sacus,  his  face  suddenly  kindling,  as  with  the  inspiration  of  a 
magnificent  thought — "  we  will  teach  the  English  our  religion, 
which  we  never  fight  about,  because  we  know  it  to  be  true,  and 
the  English  shall  teach  us  how  to  build  ships,  and  make  guns 
and  powder  ;  and,  together,  we  will  drive  the  Taranteens  into  the 
salt  lake." 


362  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE. 

"It  is  in  vain,"  said  the  Knight  to  himself,  on  hearing  this 
extraordinary  proposition.  "  He  doth,  ever  in  his  childlike  sim 
plicity,  say  something  to  confound  me.  His  untutored  mind  is 
yet  incapable  of  receiving  the  mysteries  of  our  holy  religion,  but, 
in  lieu  thereof,  perpetually  runs  after  the  practical  and  imme- 
mediate  advantages  of  powder  and  guns.  Direct  the  conversa 
tion  as  I  may,  this  target  doth  it  hit  at  last." 

At  this  moment  an  Indian  stepped  into  the  lodge,  and,  utter 
ing  the  word  "  fire !"  accompanied  by  a  gesture  of  the  arm, 
retired. 

The  Knight  and  Sassacus  sprung  up,  and,  looking  in  the  di 
rection  indicated,  beheld  the  heavens  all  aglow  with  the  confla 
gration. 

"  It  is  my  lodge  !"  exclaimed  Sir  Christopher.  "  I  will  hasten 
thither  instantly." 

"  Come  with  us,  Towanquattick,"  said  the  Chief,  calling  to  the 
Indian,  and  the  three  at  once  directed  their  course  toward  the 
dwelling  of  the  Knight. 

With  all  their  haste,  they  did  not  reach  it  until  the  fire  had 
made  such  progress  that  it  was  impossible  to  suppress  it,  or  even 
save  anything  from  the  building.  The  flames  were  pouring  out 
in  billows  from  the  doors  and  windows,  and  a  moment  after  their 
arrival  the  roof  fell  in.  They  approached  as  near  as  the  heat 
would  permit,  but  were  unable  to  distinguish  anything  in  the 
interior,  nor  was  a  sound  to  be  heard,  save  that  of  the  rushing 
flames  and  falling  timbers.  No  one  was  present,  except  the  three 
— the  natives  who  lived  near  having  retired  deeper  into  the  wood 
on  the  first  alarm.  Leaning  on  his  gun,  the  Knight  gazed  sadly 
on  the  burning  ruin,  reflecting  on  what  had  probably  become  of 
its  former  occupants.  If  he  had  any  doubts,  they  were  soon 
dissipated  by  Sassacus,  whose  attention,  with  that  of  the  other 
Indian,  had  been  attracted  by  marks  upon  the  ground  which  had 
escaped  the  notice  of  Sir  Christopher.  These  plainly  revealed  to 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.      363 

them  by  the  light  of  the  fire,  the  two,  like  well-bred  hounds,  had 
been  examining  in  every  direction,  until,  gathering  together  the 
various  tracks  into  one  trail,  they  had  followed  it  into  the  wood. 
Returning  to  the  Knight,  arid  pointing  out  the  traces,  the  chief 
said  : 

"  Many  Owanux  have  been  here,  and  all  are  gone  to  Shaw- 
mut." 

"I  surmised  as  much,"  said  Sir  Christopher,  partly  to  him 
self.  "  We  will  follow,  Sagamore,  and  assure  ourselves  with 
our  own  eyes." 

No  time  was  lost  in  lamentation,  but  the  three  instantly 
started  after  the  band. 

Sir  Christopher  could  see  the  trail  until  it  reached  the  wood ; 
but  here,  notwithstanding  his  experience  in  woodcraft,  he  fre 
quently  lost  all  trace  of  it,  though  to  the  Indians  it  seemed  as 
plain  as  a  beaten  highway.  Never  hesitating,  even  in  the  ob 
scurest  recesses  of  the  forest  where  penetrated  no  ray  of  a  star, 
with  rapid  steps  they  pursued  their  way. 

Meanwhile,  the  party  of  soldiers,  conscious  of  their  strength, 
and  encumbered  with  their  prisoners,  though  pushing  on  at  first 
at  a  good  pace,  had  of  late  been  proceeding  more  leisurely. 
Even  Lieutenant  Venn,  satisfied  that  they  would  be  able  without 
haste  to  reach  their  destination  before  daylight,  ceased  to  hurry. 
As  they  approached  nearer  the  village,  their  vigilance  diminished 
— the  men  talked  loud  and  jested  with  one  another,  and  it  was 
obvious  that  no  apprehensions  of  danger  were  entertained. 

This  state  of  things  had  not  been  unnoticed  by  Philip,  who 
had  been  meditating  over  the  question,  whether  it  were  not  bet 
ter  make  an  attempt  to  escape.  "  There  is  no  great  hazard  in 
it,"  he  said  to  himself ;  "  but  were  I  to  get  away  I  should  be 
about  as  badly  off  as  now,  unless  I  could  meet  Sir  Christopher 
or  the  Sagamore ;  and  perhaps  they  have  been  captured  by  some 
other  party,  for  our  folk  do  not  things  by  halves.  They  have 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

taken  away  my  snap-chance,  too,  and  I  cannot  shoot  with  arrows 
like  a  savage,  so  that,  as  one  may  say,  I  am  a  sort  of  cat  without 
claws.  I  know  not  what  they  can  have  against  me  now,  or  why 
I  should  be  afraid  of  them  ;  and  yet,  when  I  think  of  their  pur 
gatory  of  a  prison,  it  makes  me  crawl  all  over.  A  week's  lodg 
ing  there  would  about  make  an  end  of  me.  I  think  I  have 
never  been  quite  the  man  I  was  before,  since  they  stuck  me 
there." 

Thus  revolving  in  his  mind  the  advantages  and  disadvantages 
of  his  position,  the  remembrance  of  his  sufferings  during  his  im 
prisonment,  at  last  turned  the  scales  in  favor  of  liberty,  and 
Philip  began  to  think  of  means  to  accomplish  his  purpose.  He 
tried,  by  lagging  behind  and  falling  down  once  or  twice,  to  get 
into  the  rear  ;  but  this  manoauvre  the  vigilant  eyes  of  Lieutenant 
Venn  detected,  who  ordered  him  nearer  to  the  front,  and  directed 
that  he  should  be  watched  closer.  Foiled  in  this  manner,  that 
freedom  which  but  a  moment  before,  and  when  apparently  in  his 
power,  seemed  almost  a  matter  of  indifference,  assumed  a  con 
stantly  increasing  importance,  and  the  mind  of  Philip  worked 
more  actively  than  ever.  In  a  short  time  they  would  be  out  of 
the  forest,  when  any  attempt  at  evasion  would  be  folly,  for, 
should  he  succeed  in  shaking  off  his  guard,  he  would  run  great 
risk  of  being  shot  down  in  the  open  space.  It  was  therefore  ne 
cessary  to  think  quickly. 

"  If  I  only  had  Prudence  with  me,"  thought  Philip,  "  I  be  bound 
she  would  have  invented  a  dozen  ways  to  get  off  by  this  time. 
Sweet  wench !  there  is  some  difference  between  sitting  on  a  log 
with  her  and  stealing  a  smack  once  in  a  while,  though  a  slap  be 
pretty  sure  to  follow,  and  dragging  my  legs  in  the  dark  among 
the  briers.  But  she  is  not  here,  and  so  I  will  e'en  take  up  with 
Master  Arundel,  and  suck  his  wits  a  bit." 

"  What  think  you,"  he  whispered  to  his  companion  in  cap 
tivity,  "  of  making  a  rush,  and  showing  our  heels  to  the  Philis 
tines?" 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN   MELICE.  365 

"  It  were  madness,"  answered  the  young  man,  in  the  same 
manner.  "  Thou  wert  sure  to  be  retaken,  perhaps  shot." 

"  I  have  no  fancy  for  either  ;  but  cannot  your  wit  devise  some 
mode  to  save  me  from  yon  lock-up  ?  My  bones  ache  when  I 
think  of  it." 

"  I  have  no  desire  to  get  away,"  answered  Arundel;  "  nor  un 
derstand  I  how  it  can  advantage  thee,  seeing  that,  sooner  or  later, 
thou  art  tolerably  certain  of  being  made  prisoner  again." 

"  Nevertheless,  there  is  a  chance  of  better  things ;  and  I  say 
once  more  I  like  not  the  thoughts  of  the  close  quarters  they  in 
tend  for  us.  An'  you  will  not  run  for  it  yourself,  at  least  help  a 
poor  fellow,  whose  ideas  are  like  a  skein  of  tangled  silk,  to  avoid 
the  bilboes." 

"Assuredly,  if  you  wish,  what  I  can  I  will  do  to  facilitate 
thy  escape.  Only  tell  me  how." 

"  You  have  me  there  in  a  Cornish  hug,"  said  Philip.     "  An'  I 
knew,  I  had  not  asked." 
I  .  "  You  would  not  have  us  fight  for  our  liberty1?" 

"I  am  not  so  crazy  as  that.  Ten  to  one  is  odds  that  any  one, 
except  Sampson,  might  avoid  without  disgrace,  and  even  he 
would  not  stand  much  chance,  for  all  his  bushy  head,  when  bul 
lets  were  flying." 

"  We  must  out-mano3uvre  them  by  some  stratagem." 

"  If  Sassacus  were  here,"  said  Philip,  "  he  could  show  us  the 
way.  There  is  not  a  tree  or  a  rock  but  would  have  something 
to  say  to  him  about  a  contrivance." 

"  What  would  you  think,  Philip,"  asked  Arundel,  (the  direc 
tion  of  Sassacus  to  sound  the  notes  of  the  robin,  whenever  he 
desired  to  see  him,  occurring  to  his  mind,)  "  were  I  to  conjure  up 
the  Chief?" 

"  I  would  think  thee  more  cunning  than  any  powah  of  them 
all,  and,  moreover,  advise  thee  to  keep  out  of  the  way  of  the 
elders  and  magistrates." 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

"  Keep  quiet  a  moment,  and  I  will  try  my  powahing." 

So  saying,  the  young  man  whistled  the  peculiar  notes  of  the 
bird,  which,  in  the  dewy  silence  of  night,  rung  wide  through  the 
woods. 

"  Halt!"  cried  Spikeman,  who  instantly  suspected  some 
treachery.  "  Close  up  around  the  prisoners.  Who  dared  make 
those  sounds  ?" 

No  answer  was  returned ;  and,  after  a  vain  attempt  to  discover 
their  author,  the  party  resumed  its  march. 

"  If  your  powahing  has  done  no  other  good,  Master  Arundel," 
said  Philip,  "  it  at  least  frightened  the  General." 

"  I  am  a  beginner,"  answered  the  young  man,  jestingly,  "  and 
it  would  not  be  surprising  should  I  fail  at  first.  If  it  raise  not 
the  sagamore  or  one  of  his  men  before  we  reach  the  open  space, 
I  will  try  the  spell  again." 

But  the  notes  had  struck  the  quick  ears  of  the  Pequot  chief, 
and  at  their  sound  he  bounded  forward  at  a  pace  which  his  com 
panions  vainly  endeavored  to  equal,  and  which  shortly  left  them 
out  of  sight ;  but  they  could  hear  the  rustling  he  made  tearing 
through  the  bushes,  and,  guided  by  it,  followed.  The  noise  oc 
casioned  by  the  movements  of  so  large  a  party,  and  the  conversa 
tion  among  them,  prevented  the  approach  of  the  sagamore  being 
heard,  especially  as  when  he  drew  nearer  he  proceeded  with  more 
caution.  Gliding  from  tree  to  tree,  he  was  able  to  advance  quite 
close  without  being  discovered.  What  was  the  rage  of  the  chief, 
when,  at  the  head  of  the  band,  he  beheld  his  enemy,  the  Assistant 
Spikeman,  leading  as  prisoners  his  friends  and  the  little  Indian  girl. 
Not  waiting  for  the  Knight  and  the  Paniese  to  come  up,  fitting  an 
arrow,  he  drew  the  deer's  sinew  till  the  head  of  the  missile  touched 
the  hand  that  held  the  bow,  and  sent  it  whizzing  through  the  air. 
The  cavalcade  had  passed  on,  so  that  the  front  ranks  were  in 
advance  of  Sassacus,  when  he  discharged  the  shaft,  and  the  back 
of  the  Assistant  was  turned  to  him.  It  entered  just  below  the 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.  367 

right  shoulder,  and  was  sent  with  such  vigor,  that,  passing  be 
tween  the  ribs,  it  stopped  not  until  arrested  on  the  other  side  by 
the  steel  corselet  which  Spikeman  wore  on  his  breast.  Shouting 
then  his  war-whoop,  and  drawing  his  tomahawk  from  his  girdle, 
the  Pequot  leaped  among  the  band.  Like  lightning  it  sunk  into 
the  head  of  one  man,  who  fell  to  the  ground.  The  chief  raised 
it  again,  but  before  it  could  descend,  a  blow  prostrated  him,  and, 
in  an  instant,  he  was  overpowered  and  disarmed.  So  rapidly 
followed  these  occurrences,  that  before  the  Knight  and  Towan- 
quattick  came  up,  the  chief  was  a  prisoner,  and  every  man  on  his 
guard  was  prepared  and  watching  for  an  enemy.  To  attack 
would  have  been  certain  death  or  captivity ;  they,  therefore,  bit 
terly  lamenting  the  passionate  impetuosity  of  the  sagamore,  kept 
themselves  concealed  in  order  to  take  advantage  of  circumstances. 
Having  disposed  his  Company  so  as  to  face  in  every  direction, 
to  repel  attack,  Lieutenant  Venn  approached  to  examine  the 
fallen  men.  A  corpse  was  all  that  remained  of  Ephraim  Pike, 
who  must  have  instantly  expired  on  receiving  the  blow.  His 
head  was  cleft  to  the  neck,  and  portions  of  the  brain  were  lying 
on  the  leaves.  He  had  probably  been  selected  by  the  sagamore 
(from  his  neighborhod  to  the  Assistant,  by  whose  side  he  marched) 
as  second  in  command,  and  thus  expiated  with  his  life  his  evil 
devotion  to  his  master.  Spikeman  lay  upon  his  face,  groaning, 
while  the  blood  slowly  oozed  from  his  wound.  The  lieutenant, 
with  one  of  the  men,  raised  him  up,  while  Lady  Geraldine  strove 
to  stanch  the  bleeding.  An  attempt  was  made  to  withdraw  the 
arrow,  but  the  pain  it  occasioned  and  the  amount  of  blood  which 
followed  were  so  great,  that  it  was  abandoned.  All  that  could 
be  done  was  to  carry  the  wounded  man  as  gently  as  possible 
home.  Venn,  now  at  the  head  of  half  a  dozen  men,  scoured  the 
woods  in  the  immediate  vicinity  all  around  ;  and,  finding  no  en 
emy,  returned,  and  ordered  a  couple  of  trestles  to  be  made,  on  one 
of  which  was  to  be  placed  the  body  of  Pike,  and  on  the  other  the 


368      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

groaning  Spikeman.  Upon  mustering  the  company,  it  was  found 
that  all  were  present,  with  the  exception  of  Philip  Joy,  who 
had  escaped  in  the  confusion.  Four  men  being  assigned  to  each 
of  the  trestles,  to  be  relieved  as  occasion  should  require,  the  re 
mainder  having  charge  of  the  prisoners,  and  composing  the  van 
and  rear,  Lieutenant  Venn  re-commenced  his  march — Arundel 
walking  by  the  side  of  the  Pequot  chief,  to  whom  he  expressed 
regret  at  his  capture. 

"  It  is  a  summer  cloud,"  said  the  sagamore. 

As  for  Philip,  on  effecting  his  escape,  he  felt  some  embarrass 
ment  what  to  do  with  himself.  There  he  was,  alone  and  with 
out  arms,  in  the  forest,  wandering  helplessly  about,  and,  if  un 
able  to  find  Sir  Christopher,  in  a  worse  condition  than  before. 
He  had  half  a  mind  to  pursue  the  band  and  surrender  himself, 
when,  remembering  the  powahing,  as  he  called  it,  of  Arundel,  he 
determined  to  try  it  himself.  Imitating,  therefore,  to  the  best 
of  his  ability,  the  sounds  made  by  the  young  man,  he  sat  down 
and  waited  for  the  effect.  Presently  the  figure  of  Towanquattick, 
followed  by  that  of  the  Knight,  stole  out  of  a  thicket  and  stood 
before  him. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

But,  gasping,  heaved  the  breath  that  Lara  drew, 
And  dull  the  film  along  his  dim  eye  grew. 

BYRON. 

ON  the  arrival  of  the  party  at  the  settlement,  Lieutenant  Venn 
divided  it  into  two  detachments  ;  at  the  head  of  one  of  which  he 
carried  the  Assistant  to  his  own  house,  while  the  other,  under 
the  command  of  an  inferior  officer,  was  charged  with  the  secu 
rity  of  the  prisoners.  Only  the  sagamore  was  strictly  confined, 
being  ironed  and  placed  in  the  same  dungeon  which  Joy  had  oc 
cupied.  Sassacus  made  no  resistance,  but  submitted  with  a  sto 
ical  impassivity  as  to  an  irresistible  fate.  The  lady  and  Indian 
girl,  as  those  from  whom  flight  was  less  to  be  feared,  and  with 
whom  it  would  be  more  difficult  to  effect,  and  also  out  of  defer 
ence  to  the  weakness  of  their  sex,  were  committed  to  the  care  of 
Dame  Bars,  by  whom  they  were  to  be  closely  watched.  As  for 
Arundel,  he  was  permitted  to  depart,  the  lieutenant  informing 
him  that  he  had  been  arrested  only  to  prevent  the  carrying  of  in 
formation  to  the  Knight.  It  is  'doubtful,  however,  whether,  if 
Spikeman  had  still  been  in  command,  he  would  have  escaped  on 
as  easy  terms. 

The  little  community  was  thrown  into  some  commotion  by 
these  events.  The  dangerous  wound  of  so  prominent  a  person 
as  the  Assistant,  and  the  capture  of  the  renowned  Indian  sachem 

16 


370  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

— not  to  speak  of  the  lady — could  not  fail  to  occasion  a  lively 
interest.  As  soon  as  the  results  of  the  night  expedition  were 
known,  (and  the  news  flew  with  wonted  celerity,)  every  body 
was  in  the  streets,  giving  and  receiving  information,  or  what 
purported  to  be  such,  and  making  and  listening  to  comments 
thereupon.  We  cannot,  however,  remain  to  hear  the  conversa 
tion  of  the  grave  citizens  at  the  corners,  but  must  follow  those 
whose  particular  fortunes  we  have  undertaken  to  portray. 

The  unfortunate  Spikeman,  unable  to  suppress  his  groans  at 
the  pain  occasioned  by  the  motions  of  his  bearers — his  clothing 
saturated  with  blood,  which  kept  oozing  from  the  orifices  of  the 
wound — was  borne  to  his  dwelling,  and  delivered  to  the  weeping 
household.  It  would  be  absurd  to  suppose  that  any  great  grief 
was  felt  by  Dame  Spikeman,  and  hers  was  partly  the  feeling 
arising  from  early  associations  and  long  familiarity  ;  but  it  is 
impossible  for  the  most  stoical  to  contemplate,  without  emotion, 
one  in  the  condition  of  the  suffering  man,  and  the  tears  of  Eve 
line  and  of  Prudence  were  mingled  with  those  of  the  dame. 

It  happened  that  Dr.  Samuel  Fuller,  of  the  Plymouth  colony, 
who  had  come  over  with  the  first  Pilgrims,  was  in  Boston  at  the 
time-  He  was  immediately  brought  to  the  wounded  man,  and 
was  soon  followed  by  Governor  Winthrop,  Mr.  Eliot,  and  other 
friends.  The  corselet  had  been  removed,  and  a  portion  of  the 
clothing  cut  away,  and  Spikeman  lay  on  his  side,  spasmodically 
breathing.  Yet  had  resolution  not  entirely  deserted  him.  His 
strong  character  still  spoke  in  his  face,  and  he  looked  like  one 
who,  though  conquered,  was  not  subdued. 

Doctor  Fuller  approached  the  couch  and  gently  touched  the 
arrow,  but  it  produced  such  a  spasm  that  he  did  not  repeat  the 
experiment.  The  eyes  of  Spikeman  were  fastened  on  the  coun 
tenance  of  the  surgeon,  and  read  therein  his  doom. 

"There  is  no  hope  ?"   he  gasped. 

"  I  humbly  trust,"  said  the  doctor,  who  was  "  not  only  useful 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.  371 

in  his  faculty,  but  otherwise,  as  he  was  a  godly  man,  and  served 
Christ  in  the  office  of  a  deacon  in  the  Church  for  many  years, 
and  forward  to  do  good  in  his  place,"  according  to  an  old  chronicle 
— "  I  humbly  trust  that  a  crown  of  glory  awaits  thee  in  the 
other  world  whither  thou  art  hastening." 

A  groan,  which  shook  the  couch  whereon  he  was  lying,  and 
sent  the  blood  gushing  from  the  wound,  burst  from  Spikeman,  as 
he  heard  the  answer. 

i  "  Yea,"  said  good  and  tender-hearted  Mr.  Eliot,  "  let  our 
brother  anchor  his  mind  on  the  promises  which  are  very  com 
fortable — '  For  ye  have  not  received  the  spirit  of  bondage  again 
to  fear,  but  ye  have  received  the  spirit  of  adoption  whereby  we 
cry,  Abba,  Father.'  For  I  reckon  that  the  sufferings  of  the 
present  time  are  not  worthy  to  be  compared  with  the  glory  which 
shall  be  revealed  in  us.  l  Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the 
Lord,  and  their  works  do  follow  them.'  " 

"Works?"  interrupted  Spikeman.  "  Who  speaks  of  works  ? 
They  are  filthy  rags." 

"  They  are  indeed  but  filthy  rags,"  said  Mr.  Eliot,  "  to  them 
who  rely  upon  them  for  salvation  ;  yet  are  they  not  unpleasing 
as  being  the  fruits  of  saving  faith." 

"  I  will  not  hear  of  works,"  said  Spikeman.  "  Moreover, 
whom  he  did  predestinate — them" — a  sudden  pang  prevented 
the  conclusion  of  the  sentence,  but  it  was  finished  by  Mr.  Eliot. 

"  He  also  called  ;  and  whom  he  called,  them  he  also  justified  ; 
and  whom  he  justified,  them  he  also  glorified." 

A  silence  followed,  which  was  interrupted  only  by  the  sobs  of 
Dame  Spikeman,  until  the  wounded  man  inquired : 

"How long  shall  I  live ?" 

"  It  may  be  two  hours ;  it  may  be  only  one,"  answered  the 
physician. 

"  A  short  time !"  murmured  the  Assistant,  "  My  soul  doth 
travail  with  anguish,"  he  said,  fixing  his  burning  eyes  on  Mr. 
Eliot. 


372  THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

"  O,  my  brother  !"  exclaimed  the  divine,  "  the  precious  blood 
of  Christ  cleanseth  from  all  sins,  though  they  be  as  crimson. 
Faint  not  now,  when  thou  art  about  to  cross  the  river  of  Jordan, 
but  think  upon  thy  Redeemer." 

"  I  strive,"  said  Spikeman,  "  but  there  are  thoughts  which — 
which  rise  up,  as  a  mist,  between  me  and  him." 

"  O,  cleanse  thy  bosom  of  this  perilous  stuff,"  said  Winthrop. 
"  If  there  be  a  sin  which  persecutes  thee,  confess  it  and  re 
pent." 

"  Is  that  the  voice  of  the  Governor  ?"  asked  Spikeman,  who 
seemed  to  have  forgotten  his  entrance.     "  Repentance  !  Repent 
ance  !  it  is  too  late." 
j, .  Those  around  the  couch  looked  at  one  another  with  dismay. 

"  Our  dear  brother,"  said  Mr.  Eliot,  "  of  what  specially  wouldst 
thou  repent?  Believe  me — it  is  never  too  late  to  trust  God's 
mercies.  Think  of  the  penitent  thief  upon  the  Cross." 

"  Do  you  dare  to  call  me  a  thief?"  said  Spikeman,  hoarsely. 
"Ah!"  he  added,  "how  I  talk!  These  are  strange  feelings. 
What  I  have  to  do  must  be  done  quickly.  Call  Eveline  Dun 
ning." 

"  Who  is  in  the  room  ?"  he  inquired,  after  the  young  lady  had 
entered. 

The  names  of  those  present  were  enumerated.  "  Let  them  re 
main,"  he  said.  "They  are  of  the  congregation,  but  I  would 
not  that  the  world  should  know  my  shame.  Look  not  thus  at 
me,"  he  exclaimed,  as  soon  as  he  saw  Eveline.  "  Thy  face  is  like 
thy  father's,  the  friend  whom  I  wronged.  Be  nigh  to  hear,  but 
let  me  not  see  thee.  Eveline,  the  property  which  should  be 
thine,  I  have  misapplied,  and  it  has  melted  from  my  grasp.  It 
was  that  my  misdeed  might  not  be  discovered  that  I  denied  thee 
to  Miles  Arundel,  though  thy  father  wished  the  nuptials.  Yet, 
Eveline,  marry  him  not ;  he  is  of  the  corrupt  Church  of  Eng 
land." 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  373 

These  words  he  uttered  with  many  interruptions  of  pain,  re 
suming  when  the  paroxysm  passed  away. 

"Would you  see  Miles'?"  inquired  the  weeping  girl. 

"  To  what  end  ?  I  care  not  for  him.  He  is  not  of  the  con 
gregation.  Go  now.  I  have  done." 

"  My  spirit  is  lightened,"  he  said,  as  she  left  the  room.  "  Ed 
mund  Dunning,"  he  added,  as  his  mind  temporarily  wandered, 
"  why  do  you  fasten  your  accusing  eyes  on  me  ?  I  have  made 
all  the  reparation  that  I  can.  "What  more  ?" 

"  Alas !"  said  Mr.  Eliot,  aside,  to  Governor  Winthrop,  "  who 
would  have  thought  this  of  one  so  zealous  for  our  Israel  ?" 

Low  as  was  the  tone,  the  words  struck  the  ear  of  Spikeman. 

"  Whatever  be  my  sins,"  he  said,  "  even  though  dark  as  those 
of  David,  I  have  been  zealous  unto  slaying  for  the  people  of  God, 
Is  the  enemy  taken?"  he  inquired. 

"  Whom  mean  you  1"  asked  Winthrop. 

"  Whom  should  I  mean,  but  the  man  ye  call  the  Knight  of  the 
Golden  Melice?" 

"  He  is  not  yet  taken,"  answered  the  Governor. 

"  Let  him  be  hunted,  as  a  partridge  on  the  mountains;  let  him 
be  run  down  and  seized  ;  kill  him,  if  he  resists." 

"  This  is  no  fitting  frame  of  mind  for  a  parting  spirit,"  said 
Mr.  Eliot.  "  Let  me  beseech  you  to  turn  your  thoughts  on  the 
Saviour." 

But  delirium  had  now  taken  possession  of  the  mind  of  the 
dying  man,  and  made  him  insensible  alike  of  all  that  was  said 
and  of  pain. 

"  Away  with  him !"  he  cried,  "  who  lays  snares  for  the  feet  of 
my  people.  Hew  him  down,  though  he  hugged  the  arms  of  the 
altar." 

"  Shall  we  not,  beloved  brother,  unite  our  supplications  to  the 
throne  of  grace,  for  the  last  time  on  earth  ?"  asked  Mr.  Eliot, 
bending  over  him. 


374     THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

"  Who  shall  lay  anything  to  the  charge  of  God's  elect  ?  It  is 
God  who  justifies,"  said  Spikeman,  turning  on  the  minister  his 
glazing  eyes. 

"  It  is  in  vain,"  said  Winthrop.  "  He  heeds  not  nor  under 
stands  what  you  say." 

"  Papistical  mummeries !  Your  croziers,  your  mitres,  your 
mumbled  prayers  from  the  mass-book !  I  hate  them  !  Forty 
years  long  they  wandered  in  the  wilderness,  but  they  prevailed  at 
last.  Stay  ye  the  hands  of  our  Moses  !  Be  strong  !  Quit  ye 
like  men." 

"  His  mind,  even  in  its  wanderings,  doth  remember  Israel," 
said  Dr.  Fuller. 

"  He  hath,  indeed,"  said  Winthrop,  "  ever  avouched  himself  a 
devoted  servant  of  our  cause.  Unhappy  is  it " 

He  looked  at  the  weeping  wife,  and  left  the  sentence  un 
finished. 

".Let  him  who  is  without  sin  cast  the  first  stone,"  said  good 
Mr.  Eliot. 

"  Where  sin  abounded,  grace  did  much  more  abound !"  ex 
claimed  the  dying  man. 

"  Dear  husband,"  said  Dame  Spikeman,  sobbing,  and  taking 
his  hand,  "  know  you  me  ?" 

"  What  woman  speaks  ?"  said  Spikeman.  "  It  is  the  voice  of 
Prudence — sweet  Pru " 

His  wife  let  the  hand  fall,  and  covering  her  face  with  her 
handkerchief,  burst  into  a  flood  of  tears.  A  severer  spasm  than 
any  before  shook  the  Assistant's  frame  ;  a  more  copious  gush  of 
blood  poured  from  the  wound ;  and  in  the  effort  to  speak  the 
name  of  the  girl,  the  spirit  passed  to  its  account. 

"  Strange,"  said  pure-minded  Mr.  Eliot,  "  that  he  should  utter 
the  name  of  the  serving-maid." 

A  look  of  intelligence  passed  between  the  Governor  and  the 
physician,  but  neither  spoke. 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.      375 

"  He  is  silent,"  said  the  divine  ;  "  he  is  stiller,  and  feels  less 
pain." 

"  He  will  never  feel  pain  again  in  this  world,"  said  the  doc 
tor,  approaching  the  bed,  at  a  little  distance  from  which  he  had 
been  sitting,  and  gazing  on  the  corpse. 

Dame  Spikeman  screamed,  and  was  borne,  fainting,  from  the 
apartment  in  the  arms  of  Eveline  and  Prudence,  who  hastened 
in  at  the  sound. 

"  Behold,"  said  Mr.  Eliot,  who,  after  the  manner  of  clergymen, 
was  anxious  to  "  improve  the  solemn  occasion,"  "  another  warning 
addressed  to  us  all,  to  be  ready,  for  we  know  not  neither  the  day 
nor  the  hour.  How  suddenly  hath  our  friend  been  forever  removed 
from  the  scene  of  his  labors  and  his  hopes.  i  As  the  cloud  is  con 
sumed  and  vanisheth  away,  so  he  that  goeth  down  to  the  grave  shall 
come  up  no  more ;  he  shall  return  no  more  to  his  house,  neither  shall 
his  place  know  him  any  more.'  But,  though  the  spirit  be  gone, 
its  memory  remains  behind.  Out  of  the  good  and  the  evil  it 
hath  done,  shall  be  erected  its  monument  on  earth.  O,  let  us 
hope  that  the  former,  sprinkled  and  cleansed  by  the  blood  that 
maketh  all  things  pure,  may  be  accepted,  and  the  latter  forgiven, 
for  His  sake  who  shed  it.  For  He  who  made  us  knoweth 
whereof  we  are  made ;  He  remembereth  that  we  are  dust ;  He 
seeth  not  as  man  seeth.  Only  He  knows  all  the  secrets  of  the 
weak,  trembling  heart,  its  temptations,  its  trials,  its  struggles, 
its  sorrows,  its  triumphs,  its  despairs.  Our  friend  was  a  captain 
in  Israel.  He  hath  fallen  with  his  armor  on,  and  girded  for  the 
battle.  He  loved  the  suffering  Church.  Be  that  a  remembrance 
to  rise  like  a  sweet- smelling  incense  before  the  congregation; 
and  if  Thou,  whose  pure  eyes  cannot  behold  iniquity,  wilt  not  be 
extreme  to  mark  what  is  done  amiss,  neither  may  we,  the  work 
of  thy  hands,  dare  to  assume  Thy  prerogative  ;  but  as  the  sons  of 
sinning  Noah,  with  averted  eyes,  covered  the  nakedness  of  their 
father  with  their  garments,  so  will  we  hide  in  forgetfulness  each 
short-coming  and  each  transgression." 


376  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELIOE. 

As  the  good  man,  with  a  swelling  heart  and  sad  eyes,  in 
which  glittered  the  sacred  drops  of  human  feeling,  uttered  these 
words,  he  looked  like  a  pitying  angel  from  whose  lips  reproach 
could  not  fall,  and  whose  blessed  office  was  only  to  instruct  and 
to  forgive. 

The  death  of  one  as  important  as  the  Assistant  Spikeman 
could  not  but  be  sensibly  felt  in  so  small  a  community.  He  had 
been  a  man  whose  daring  nature  would  not  allow  him  to  be  at 
rest,  and  who  was  never  contented,  except  in  the  exercise  of  all  his 
faculties.  Hence  he  had  been  not  only  active  and  scheming  in 
private  life,  but  also  busy  and  bold  in  public,  driven  forward,  as 
it  were,  by  a  sort  of  inborn  necessity.  Though  not  deeply  re 
gretted,  he  yet  was  missed.  Those  whom  his  adventurous  spirit 
employed  in  the  fisheries,  and  the  just-commencing  fur  trade, 
missed  him  ;  his  brethren  of  the  congregation,  wherein  his  voice, 
to  the  edification  of  his  hearers,  had  often  been  lifted  up  in  the 
"gift  of  prophecying,"  missed  him;  and  his  coadjutors  in  the 
government,  to  whom  in  more  than  one  instance  his  keen  natural 
sagacity  had  been  a  guide,  and  his  zeal  a  stimulus  and  support, 
missed  him  ;  but  it  was  only  for  a  short  time.  How  often  has  it 
been  remarked,  that  few  things  are  as  capable  of  making  us  feel 
our  insignificance,  as  the  shortness  of  time  in  which  we  are  for 
gotten.  Active,  prominent,  influential  as  he  had  been,  Spikeman 
was  soon  remembered  only  as  yesterday  is  remembered.  There 
were  no  loves  twining  around  his  memory,  reaching  beyond  the 
grave,  and  bringing  him  back  to  earth  ;  no  tender  recollections  of 
benefits  conferred,  which  the  heart  cherishes  as  an  inestimable 
treasure.  There  was  naught  for  the  mind  to  dwell  upon,  save 
his  public  duties,  which  he  had  indeed  discharged  respectably, 
but  no  more.  Another  Assistant  could  fill  his  place  as  well ; 
another  exercise  the  gift  of  prophecying  to  the  use  of  edifying ; 
and  other  merchants  succeed  to,  his  trade.  Verily  is  the  life 
of  man  as  the  track  of  an  arrow  in  the  air  ;  as  smoke  lost  in 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  377 

the  clouds ;  as  a  flake  of  snow  that  falls  upon  the  water ;  as  a 
childish  grief,  or  aught  else  that  is  most  transient. 

But  the  death  of  the  wicked  is  a  benefit  to  earth.  A  gloomy 
shadow  hath  passed  away ;  the  blight  of  its  presence  will  fall  no 
more  on  the  innocent.  The  purpose  for  which  he  was  sent  into 
this  world,  that  from  its  joys  and  its  sorrows  he  might  become  a 
nobler  being,  seems  to  have  been  defeated.  But  I  know  not. 
Pass,  then,  dark  spirit ;  my  eyes  seek  not  to  follow  thy  track. 

The  relation  which  existed  between  Arundel  and  Eveline  was, 
of  course,  affected  by  the  disclosure  of  Spikeman  on  his  death 
bed — no  opposition  being  henceforth  made  to  the  free  intercourse 
of  the  two  young   people.     There  were,  indeed,  some  who  la 
mented  that  the  daughter  of  precious  Edmund  Dunning  should  be 
come  the  wife  of  one  who  had  not  cast  in  his  lot  with  the  saints ; 
but  then,  again,  Arundel  was  no  enemy  to  their  cause,  no  railing 
Rabsheka,  but  a  well-behaved  and  modest  youth,  who  paid,  at 
least,  an  outward  respect  to  the  customs  of  the  congregation,  and 
might  yet,  from  the  influence  of  godly  Edmund  Dunning' s  child, 
be  converted  into  a  vessel  of  grace.     Moreover,  the  story  was 
pretty  well  known,  and  the  romantic  love  which  had  attracted 
him  from  New-England,  and  the  wrong  the  two  had  suffered 
from  Spikeman,  worked  in  their  favor  in  the  hearts  of  the  Puri 
tans.      The   marked   attention   which   the   generous  Winthrop 
manifested  now  toward  them,  seeming  as  if  anxious  by  present 
kindness  to  atone  for  former  injustice,  contributed  also  not  a  lit 
tle  to  the  feeling ;  and,  honored  and  beloved,  the  young  couple, 
with  the  sanguine  anticipations   of  youth,  looked  forward  to  a 
cloudless  future.     Yet  was  their  happiness,  especially  that  of 
Arundel,  damped  by  reflections  upon  the  condition  of  the  Pequot 
chief  and  the  lady  in  the  prison,  and  of  the  Knight  wandering 
homeless  in  the  forest,  with  no  place  of  shelter  for  his  defenceless 
head  save  the  wigwams  of  the  friendly  savages.     Knowing  the 
severity  of  the  government,  the  foreboding  mind  of  the  young 

16* 


378      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

man  was  harrassed  with  apprehensions  for  the  fate  which  might 
befall  them.  Access  to  the  Lady  Geraldine  was  permitted  to 
him  and  Eveline,  and  thus  were  they  able  to  bestow  upon  the  un 
happy  lady  at  least  their  sympathy,  for  of  nothing  else  would 
she  accept ;  but  no  one  was  allowed  to  see  the  Sagamore.  In 
vain  Arundel  pleaded  and  intreated  ;  in  vain  he  recounted  his 
personal  obligations  to  the  Chief;  he  was  firmly  repulsed,  and 
told  that  though  the  feeling  was  honorable,  it  constituted  no 
claim  for  the  violation  of  a  rule  which  their  circumstances  im 
posed. 

Disappointed  and  somewhat  incensed  at  the  unnecessary  harsh 
ness,  as  he  conceived,  wherewith  the  Chief  was  treated,  and  at 
the  suspicion  implied  toward  himself,  he,  one  day  on  his  return 
from  an  unsuccessful  attempt  to  obtain  an  order  for  admission  to 
the  prison,  from  Winthrop,  poured  out  his  vexation  and  wounded 
pride  to  his  mistress. 

"  Is  it  not,"  he  said,  "  most  extraordinary,  this  refusal  to  allow 
me  to  say  to  a  man  who  saved  my  life,  that  I  have  not  forgotten 
him  ?  Is  it  because  their  treatment  of  the  unfortunate  Saga 
more  is  so  bad  that  they  are  unwilling  it  should  be  known  ?  or 
do  they  think  that  in  open  day  I  would  attempt  to  rescue  him  ?" 

"  It  is  more  likely,"  said  Eveline,  "  to  conceal  the  weakness 
of  the  prison." 

"  By  heaven,  Eveline,  thy  woman's  wit  hath  discovered  the 
cause.  I  have  been  thinking  over  his  wrongous  confinement,  and 
my  debt,  till  I  can  endure  my  inaction  no  longer,  and  I  swear  by 
St.  George  of  England,  that  I  will  soon  seek  an  opportunity  to 
deliver  the  noble  savage  from  the  undeserved  death,  which  sure 
am  I,  is  his  intended  doom." 

"  I  blame  thee  not,  Miles,"  said  Eveline.  "  One  were  craven 
to  forget  a  benefit.  Only  show  me  how  I  can  aid  thee,  and  my 
assistance  shall  not  be  wanting." 

"  Nay,"  said  her  lover.  "  This  is  no  matter  wherein  soft,  small 
hands  like  thine  must  interfere." 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  379 

"  It  is  not  so  big  as  thine,"  she  said,  measuring  the  little  hand 
on  the  palm  of  Arundel,  "  but  such  as  it  is,  it  shall  ever  be  at 
the  service  of  honor  and  justice.  Were  I  a  man  I  would  strike 
a  blow  for  the  sake  of  the  generous  chief,  even  although  sure  of 
being  prostrated  to  the  earth  by  a  hundred  the  next  instant." 

The  color  of  Eveline  was  heightened,  and  her  voice  trembled 
a  little,  as  she  made  the  declaration. 

"  Thy  language,  dearest,  is  a  spur  to  a  determination  already 
formed.  Were  Sassacus  to  lose  his  life,  and  I  to  leave  this  land, 
conscious  of  having  omitted  anything  to  save  it,  (at  present  so 
greatly  imperilled,)  the  thought  would  cast  a  gloom  over  the 
remainder  of  my  days,  which,  even  thy  love  could  not  chase 
away." 

"  Yet  run  into  no  unnecessary  danger — do  not  be  rash.    What 
have  I  done  by  my  imprudent  words'?"  said  the  young  lady, 
tears  swelling  into  her  eyes,  as  the  possible  consequences  of  what ' 
she  had  said,  occurred  to  her  mind.     "  O  Miles,  heed  me  not. 
What  do  I  know  of  such  things  !" 

"  To  prudence  and  courage,"  said  Arundel,  "  there  is  little 
danger  in  any  enterprise ;  but  sooner  shall  life  desert  me,  than  I 
the  Fequot  chief." 

They  parted,  he  to  ponder  means  to  accomplish  his  purpose, 
and  she  alternately  to  reproach  and  to  forgive  herself,  for  encour 
aging  her  lover  in  an  undertaking  full  of  peril,  yet  demanded  by 
gratitude  and  honor. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

No  wound,  which  warlike  hand  of  enemy 

nflicts  with  dint  of  sword,  so  sore  doth  light, 
As  doth  the  poisonous  sting  which  infamy 

Infixeth  in  the  name  of  noble  wight ; 
For  by  no  art.  nor  any  leeches  might, 
It  ever  can  recovered  be  again. 

SPENSIE'S  FAIKT  QUEIN. 

THE  reader  is  introduced,  once  more,  into  the  company  of  the 
assembled  magnates  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  in  New-England, 
and  into  the  same  room  where  we  beheld  them  before.  Gover 
nor  Winthrop,  upon  the  elevated  dais,  in  his  elbow  chair,  presides, 
while,  ranged  around  the  central  table,  is  a  full  attendance  of  the 
Assistants.  Not  as  before,  however,  are  spectators  admitted. 
Saving  the  honorable  Council,  no  person  is  present,  for  the  busi 
ness  before  them  has  reference  to  concerns  of  State,  as  well  as  to 
a  judicial  examination,  and  it  is  considered  expedient  to  conduct 
it  in  secrecy.  The  members,  at  the  moment  we  enter,  are  en 
gaged  in  an  earnest  discussion,  and  it  is  the  rough  voice  of  Deputy 
Governor  Dudley  which  first  salutes  the  ear. 

"  It  were  of  little  avail,"  he  said,  as  if  objecting  to  something 
which  had  been  proposed.  "  Let  us  not,  like  the  ancient  Phari 
sees,  lay  upon  the  shoulders  of  the  people  burdens  too  heavy  to 
be  borne." 

"  Thy  comparison,"  said  Endicott,  in  reply,  "  is  somewhat  un- 
pleasing,  and  the  shoe  fits  us  not ;  but  in  vain  hath  been  our 
pilgrimage  hither,  if  we  continue  to  imitate  the  unhappy  model 
we  left  behind." 


382  THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

"  Call  you,"  said  Dudley,  "  the  accidental  shaping  of  a  ruff, 
or  the  manner  of  disposing  of  the  folds  of  my  galligaskins,  an 
imitation  of  a  prelatical  model  t" 

"  And  call  you,"  retorted  Endicott,  "  the  requiring  of  people 
vowed  to  the  Lord,  to  dress  themselves  in  a  plain  and  unpreten 
tious  manner,  a  burden  too  heavy  to  be  borne  1" 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  Winthrop,  "  ye  be  both  in  the  right. 
Procul  dubiOj  it  becomes  us,  of  all  men,  to  apparel  ourselves  in  a 
sober  manner,  as  thus  protesting  against  the  foolish  vanities  of 
the  world,  and  yet  is  it  in  some  sort  a  burden,  to  be  required  to 
change  the  fashion  of  our  garments." 

"  I  perceive,  already,  with  much  sadness  of  heart,"  said  Endi 
cott,  "  a  declension  in  that  strictness  of  regimen  which  marked 
the  earlier  time.  Have  ye  not  heard  of  the  godly  man  who,  long 
time,  had  been  prisoner  at  Norwich  for  the  cause,  and  was  by 
Judge  Cook  set  at  liberty  ?  Now,  this  man,  desiring  to  go  into 
the  Low  Countries  by  ship  from  Yarmouth,  did  turn  into  the 
house  of  an  ancient  woman  in  the  city,  who  had  been  very  kind 
and  helpful  to  him  in  his  sufferings,  in  order  to  return  thanks, 
and  she  knowing  his  voice,  made  him  welcome.  But  when  he 
was  ready  to  depart,  she  came  up  to  him  and  felt  of  his  band, 
(for  her  eyes  were  dim  with  age,)  and  perceiving  it  was  somewhat 
stiffened  with  starch,  she  was  much  displeased,  and  reproved  him 
very  sharply,  fearing  God  would  not  prosper  his  journey.  Yet 
was  the  man  a  plain  countryman,  clad  in  grey  russet,  without 
either  welt  or  guard,  (as  the  proverb  is,)  and  the  band  he  wore 
scarce  worth  three  pence,  made  of  their  own  homespinning. 
What  would  such  professors,  if  they  were  now  living,  say  to  the 
excess  of  our  times  ?" 

"  Thy  tale,"  said  Dudley,  a  little  sarcastically,  "  reproaches 
thine  own  band." 

"  I  did  instance  this  case,"  replied  Endicott,  slightly  abashed, 
te  not  as  acknowledging  myself  literally  bound  to  accept  it  as  a 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.      383 

guide  for  mine  own  conduct,  but  for  the  wholesome  admonition 
therein  contained." 

"  That  is  to  say,"  returned  Dudley,  "  inasmuch  as  it  jumps 
not  with  thy  humor,  thou  wilt  none  of  it ;  but  being  fitted,  as 
thou  conceivest,  to  reproach  us  withal,  thou  dost  accept  it."  But 
having  sufficiently  annoyed  the  other,  he  added,  by  way  of  make 
peace,  "  there  is  one  custom  which  my  soul  abhors,  and  against 
the  which  I  desire  with  thee,  Master  Endicott,  to  bear  my  testi 
mony,  and  that  is  the  coming  of  women  unveiled  into  the  congre 
gation.  I  remember  that  the  venerable  Countess  of  Lincoln  had 
a  falling  veil  to  conceal  her  features,  when  she  came  into  the 
house  of  the  Lord,  to  worship  with  his  people.'' 

In  spite  of  himself,  a  smile  passed  over  the  face  of  Winthrop, 
as  it  did  also  over  those  of  several  Assistants. 

"  What  excites  your  risibles,  gentlemen,"  asked  Dudley,  se 
verely.  "  I  trust  that  I  am  not  the  subject  of  your  mirth." 

"  For  me,  sir,"  said  Master  Simon  Bradstreet,  on  whom  the 
eyes  of  the  deputy  happened  to  rest  at  the  conclusion  of  the  sen 
tence,  "  if  thou  desirest  an  answer,  I  will  crave  permission  first 
to  inquire,  if  this  discreet  lady,  who,  from  thy  epithet,  I  infer  to 
be  somewhat  advanced  in  life,  was  preeminently  distinguished  for 
beauty  ?" 

"  Although  of  a  gracious  presence,  I  cannot  say  that  she  greatly- 
excelled  in  that  respect,"  answered  Dudley. 

"  Then,"  replied  Master  Bradstreet,  "  I  see  not  how  the  view 
of  her  face  could  disturb  the  devotions  of  the  congregation." 

"  Ye  smile,  my  masters,"  said  Dudley,  looking  round,  "as 
though  ye  had  me  at  advantage ;  but  ye  consider  not  the 
importance  of  the  example  of  a  lady  so  high  in  station,  and  so 
exemplary  in  her  Christian  calling.  Not  so  much  on  account 
of  herself,  but  for  other's  sakes,  was  it  done  by  the  godly  and 
honorable  lady." 

"  I  see  no  foundation  therefor  in  Scripture,"  said  an  Assist- 


384      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

ant.  "  Surely  married  women  have  no  pretext  to  wear  veils  as 
virgins,  neither  would  married  nor  unmarried  choose  to  do  so 
from  the  example  of  Tamar  the  wanton,  nor  need  they  do  it  for 
sueh  purpose  as  Ruth  did,  in  her  widowhood." 

"  We  claim  no  certain  warrant  of  Scripture  for  the  practice," 
said  Endicott,  coming  up  to  the  rescue  of  the  deputy,  "  but  only 
as  being  based  on  the  propriety  and  fitness  of  things." 

"  Fall  you  not  then  into  the  very  condemnation  of  the  Scribes 
and  Pharisees,  who  imposed  upon  the  people  burdens  enjoined 
neither  by  Moses  nor  the  prophets  1"  said  the  same  Assistant, 
using  the  deputy's  own  argument. 

"  Nay,"  said  Master  Increase  No  well.  "  If  we  confine  our 
selves  strictly  to  what  we  find  in  the  Scripture,  I  fear  it  might 
strike,  in  some  respects,  at  the  proceedings  of  our  government. 
The  sounder  rule,  it  appears  to  me,  is  to  follow  Scripture  as  far 
as  we  may,  having  regard  to  the  difference  of  our  circumstances." 
"  Such  hath  been  our  endeavor,"  said  Endicott.  "The  man 
ner  of  our  dealing  with  the  vile  and  pernicious  weed,  tobacco, 
sufficiently  illustrates  the  principle  of  our  government.  The  wis 
dom  of  the  godly  founders  of  the  plantation  at  Salem,  the  charge 
whereof  was  entrusted  to  my  weak  hands,  did  clearly  perceive 
the  lamentable  effects,  both  to  the  souls  and  bodies  of  the  users, 
hebetating  the  former,  and  debauching  the  latter,  likely  to  arise 
from  an  indulgence  therein,  and  they  did  therefore,  both  in  their 
first  and  second  letter  of  instructions  to  myself  and  the  Council, 
straightly  enjoin  that  no  tobacco  should  be  planted  by  any  of  the 
new  planters  under  our  government,  saving  under  close  restric 
tions,  and  that  the  same  might  be  taken  by  ancient  men  and 
none  other,  and  that  privately.  Now,  there  were  those  affecting 
to  be  pinched  with  tender  consciences,  who  said  that  this  was  an 
infringement  of  their  natural  liberty,  authorized  by  no  rule  of 
Scripture,  to  whom  we  made  answer  that  the  said  abominable 
weed,  the  smoke  whereof  may  fitly  be  compared  to  the  vapor  from 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.     385 

the  bottomless  pit,  was  not  known  in  those  primitive  days,  and 
for  that  reason,  no  rule  regarding  it  was  to  be  found,  showing  at 
the  same  time  that  other  things,  less  objectionable,  (as  it  would 
seem,)  were  prohibited,  and  thus  by  parity  of  reasoning,  estab 
lishing  our  point.  Concerning  this  matter,  as  I  understand, 
there  is  little  difference  of  opinion  among  us,  although  a  report 
hath  of  late  reached  my  ears,  that  certain  men  in  high  position, 
even  elders,  having  become  addicted  to  the  use  thereof,  are  beat 
ing  about  for  reasons  to  excuse  their  backsliding." 

"  A  calumny,  doubtless,"  said  Wlnthrop.  "  But  touching  the 
principle  involved  in  matters  of  government,  I  will  deliver  my 
opinion.  Of  things  coming  within  the  scope  of  government,  I 
judge  there  are  two  classes ;  whereof,  the  one  class  may  be  said 
to  consist  of  things  mala  in  se — that  is,  of  those  which,  by  an  in 
ner  quality  or  essence,  are  evil ;  and  the  other,  of  such  as  are 
mala  ab  extero,  or  what  may  be  connected  with  them  and  made 
evil  only  by  a  positive  law  of  the  State,  in  which  is  vested  the 
duty  of  watching  over  the  common  good.  The  fantastic  notions 
of  certain  libertines,  who,  setting  at  naught  the  experience  of  the 
world,  and  fondly  imagining  that  wisdom  will  die  with  themselves, 
have  insinuated  a  doubt  of  the  rightful  power  of  the  law-giver 
in  this  latter  particular,  I  condemn,  and  see  not  how  government 
can  exist  without  it.  Now,  as  for  things  embraced  in  the  former 
category — such,  for  example,  as  those  prohibited  in  the  decalogue 
— there  can  be  no  doubt  of  the  duty  of  every  Christian  State  to 
see  that  the  prohibition  be  sustained  and  enforced  even  by  extreme 
penalties,  if  otherwise  the  end  cannot  be  reached.  But  as  for 
those  contained  in  the  latter  category,  a  wide  latitude  of  opinion 
may  and  doth  exist  among  brethren  with  regard  to  the  extent 
whereunto  the  Sovereign  power  should  go  in  imposing  restraint. 
Some,  with  queasy  consciences,  are  for  making  most  of  the  duties 
of  life  to  be  practised,  whether  of  a  civil  or  religious  nature,  and 
also  the  vices  to  be  avoided,  matters  of  public  enactment ;  while 


386  THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

others  as  honestly  hold,  that  the  cause  of  virtue  is  not  thereby 
promoted,  but  that,  contrariwise,  the  very  prohibition,  when  not 
based  either  on  the  law  of  God  or  the  plain  and  unequivocal 
reason  of  the  thing,  doth  act  oft-times  as  a  stimulus  or  uneasy 
incitement  to  the  breach  of  law,  besides  making  men  hypocrites 
and  time-servers.  I  may  not  dilate,  but  merely  hint  this  much, 
not  doubting  that  your  quick-conceiving  minds  have  already 
sounded  the  depths  of  the  subject.  And  now,  touching  the  mat 
ter  more  immediately  in  hand,  which  is  the  proposition  of  Master 
Endicott  concerning  apparel,  and  also  the  expediency  of  females 
wearing  veils  in  the  congregation,  it  seems  to  me  to  belong 
plainly  to  things  indifferent,  and  not  to  be  of  instant  or  pressing 
importance,  requiring  present  action  ;  and  as  there  is  a  difference 
of  opinion  in  the  Council  respecting  it,  I  propose  that  it  be  post 
poned,  and  meanwhile  referred  to  the  grave  judgments  of  the 
elders,  more  especially  as  the  wearing  of  veils  is  a  thing  con 
nected  with  the  assembling  together  of  the  congregation  in  the 
Lord's  house." 

"  We  are  content  that  it  should  take  that  course,"  cried  sev 
eral  voices.  And  such,  accordingly,  was  the  disposition  made  of 
Master  Endicott' s  sumptuary  motion. 

"Time  doth  wear,"  said  Sir  Richard  Saltonstall.  "Were  it 
not  well  to  proceed  to  the  examination  of  the  woman  ?" 
i«:  "If  no  gbjection  be  offered,  I  will  consider  such  to  be  your 
minds,"  said  the  Governor.  A  silence  following,  the  servitor 
was  ordered  to  conduct  the  person  calling  herself  Lady  Geraldine 
De  Vaux  to  the  presence. 

While  awaiting  her  arrival,  the  conversation  re-commenced 
npon  a  subject  which  seemed  to  possess  peculiar  interest  for  En 
dicott. 

"  I  cannot  abide  it,"  said  he  to  his  next  neighbor. 

"  May  I  inquire  what  excites  your  indignation,  master  Endi 
cott?"  said  Winthrop. 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.      387 

"  The  detestable  fashion  of  wearing  long  hair,  after  the  man 
ner  of  ruffians  and  barbarous  Indians,  which  is  beginning  to  in 
vade  our  Canaan,  contrary  to  the  rule  of  God's  word,  which 
says  that  it  is  a  shame  for  a  man  to  wear  long  hair,  and  contrary 
also  to  the  commendable  custom  generally  of  all  the  godly  of  our 
nation,  until  within  these  few  years." 

"You  have  flushed  a  new  covey,"  said  Winthrop,  with  a 
smile. 

"  Nay ;  it  is  a  chicken  of  the  same  brood,"  said  an  Assistant. 

"  Call  it  what  you  will,"  answered  Endicott.  "It  may  be  a 
chicken,  if  you  please,  or  a  hawk,  or  whatever  else  your  learn 
ings  may  call  it,  but  I  do  declare  and  manifest  my  dislike  and 
detestation  of  such  wearing  of  long  hair,  as  against  a  thing  un 
civil  and  unmanly,  whereby  men  deform  themselves,  and  offend 
sober  and  modest  persons,  and  corrupt  good  manners." 

"  This  is  but  a  thing  indifferent,"  broke  in  Dudley.  "  It  will 
be  time  enough  to  think  thereof,  when  no  business  of  moment  is 
before  us." 

"  Call  you  that  a  thing  indifferent,"  demanded  Endicott, 
"  which  is  plainly  reprobated  in  Scripture  1" 

"  I  would  have"  you  notice,"  answered  the  Deputy,  "  that  the 
custom  is  nowhere  prohibited.  The  apostle  doth  merely  speak 
of  it  as  of  something  contrary  to  usage  in  his  days." 

"Brother  Dudley— Brother  Dudley,"  said  Endicott,  "I  read 
not  so  the  Epistle  of  Paul.  Thus  speaks  he :  '  Doth  not  nature 
itself  teach  you  that  if  a  man  have  long  hair  it  is  a  shame  unto 
him?'" 

"  Spoke  Paul  in  this  wise,"  inquired  Dudley,  "  as  Paul  the 
inspired  messenger,  or  as  Paul  the  fallible  man  *?" 

"Have  a  care,  brother  Dudley,"  said  Endicott.  "  These  be 
dangerous  distinctions.  What  is  written  is  written  for  our 
learning,  and  I  will  not  curiously  inquire  into  the  amount  of  in 
spiration  therein,  having  no  guage  whereby  to  determine  its 
measure." 


388  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

The  conversation,  much  to  the  relief  of  Dudley,  who  found 
himself,  somehow  or  other,  speaking  in  opposition  to  Endicott  in 
a  matter  wherein  the  opinions  and  feelings  of  the  two  did  not 
after  all  materially  differ,  was  here  interrupted  by  the  opening  of 
a  door  and  the  introduction  of  the  lady.  She  was  clothed  en 
tirely  in  black,  with  a  veil  of  the  same  color  covering  her  head, 
and  falling  so  low  as  completely  to  conceal  her  features.  With 
a  modest  mien  she  followed  the  servitor,  and,  at  a  courteous 
wave  of  the  hand  and  inclination  of  the  body  from  Winthrop, 
took  a  seat  near  the  Secretary,  a  little  aback  from  the  table. 

"  She  is  attired,"  said  an  Assistant  to  another,  "  as  if  she  did 
divine  the  thoughts  of  Endicott.  For  the  sake  of  her  veil  she 
ought  to  find  favor  in  his  eyes." 

"  Yet  see  how  he  doth  eye  her,  as  if  his  fiery  glances  longed 
to  burn  up  the  envious  screen.  He  would  tell  us,  I  fancy,  that 
he  confines  his  rule  to  meetings  of  the  congregation,  and  would 
consider  it  an  invasion  of  his  Christian  liberty  to  be  denied  the 
sight  of  beauty  elsewhere,  to  compensate  his  self-denial." 

"  Madam,"  said  Winthrop,  "  it  pains  me  and  every  member  of 
the  Council  that  we  meet  under  these  circumstances.  Let  me 
trust  that  you  will  be  able  to  dispel  certain  suspicions,  and  that 
the  frankness  of  your  answers  to  the  questions  to  be  propounded 
will  lighten  for  you  and  make  less  onerous  for  us  the  sad  duty 
we  are  performing." 

The  lady  said  something  in  reply,  but  either  on  account  of  the 
the  low  tone  in  which  she  spoke,  or  of  the  interposition  of  the 
veil,  the  words  were  inaudible. 

"  I  hear  not  what  she  says,"  cried  Dudley.  "  Let  her  throw 
back  her  veil.  Master  Endicott,"  he  added,  turning  to  the  Ex- 
Governor  of  Salem,  "  here  hast  thou  evidence  that  thy  rule  is 
not  of  universal  application." 

Endicott  turned  his  steady  eyes  upon  the  Deputy,  and  began 
to  caress  his  chin  beard  with  Ids  hand,  but,  before  he  could  speak, 
Winthrop's  voice  was  heard. 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE    GOLDEN   MELICE.  389 

"  Do  us  the  favor,  madam,"  he  said,  "to  remove  the  covering 
from  your  face." 

"  Allow  me,"  said  the  lady,  with  a  voice  which  trembled  a 
little,  "  to  keep  hid  a  face  which  ye  would  cover  with  shame." 

"Think  not  so  evil  of  us,"  answered  Winthrop.  "Nought 
would  more  glad  our  hearts  than  your  innocence." 

He  waited  an  instant,  as  if  to  see  whether  she  would  comply 
with  his  request,  and,  upon  her  failing  to  do  so,  added,  "  for  my 
self,  I  will  not  press  what  I  see  is  unpleasant." 

But  this  concession  appeared  not  to  meet  with  general  ap 
proval.  Murmurs  circulated  about  the  table,  and  presently  Dud 
ley  spoke. 

"It  is  contrary  to  the  custom  of  every  civilized  court,"  he 
said,  "  to  permit  a  witness  or  an  accused  person  to  conceal  his 
features.  The  reason  thereof  is  too  patent  to  need  explication." 

"  We  do  entreat  you,  madam,"  said  Sir  Richard,  "  to  pleasure 
us  thus  far,  and  to  believe  that  no  want  of  consideration  is 
designed." 

Again  a  pause  followed,  which  was  broken  by  the  impatient 
Dudley. 

"  It  were  painful,"  he  said,  looking  sternly  at  the  lady,  "  to 
use  force." 

"  It  shall  not  need,"  she  replied,  with  a  tremulous  voice, 
which,  however,  acquired  steadiness  as  she  proceeded.  "  I  am  in 
your  power,  and  will  obey  your  commands." 

So  saying,  without  raising  her  eyes,  she  withdrew  the  veil,  and 
exposed  her  pale  face  to  view.  It  was  seen  for  the  first  time  by 
most  of  the  Assistants,  and  it  was  obvious,  from  the  whispered 
comments,  that  no  unfavorable  impression  had  been  made. 

"  A  modest  looking  gentlewoman  enough,"  quoth  Sir  Richard. 

"  Discreet  in  her  bearing,"  said  another. 

"  All  is  not  gold  that  glitters,"  said  Dudley.  "  The  beautiful 
skin  of  the  snake  covers,  after  all,  a  snake." 


890  THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN   MELICE. 

"  For  shame,  Master  Deputy,"  said  Bradstreet. 

"  We  desire  to  learn  of  you  your  knowledge  of  the  person 
calling  himself  Sir  Christopher  Gardiner,"  said  Winthrop- 
"  Know  you  by  what  right  he  doth  assume  the  title  ?" 

"  I  will  answer  your  question,"  replied  the  lady,  protesting 
against  the  coercion  exercised  over  me.  "  He  is  a  worthy  and 
honorable  gentleman  of  my  own  personal  knowledge,  and  of  the 
family  of  the  Gardiner s,  of  whom  Stephen  Gardiner,  Bishop  of 
Winchester,  was  an  illustrious  scion." 

"  How  know  you  of  the  relationship  ?"  inquired  Winthrop. 

"  Sir  Christopher  hath  himself  told  me  so,"  answered  the 
lady. 

"  A  manifest  invention,"  said  Endicott,  in  a  low  voice  to 
Dudley,  "  to  raise  himself  in  the  estimation  of  his  paramour." 

"  Our  minds  do  meet  in  the  same  conclusion,"  said  Dudley,  in 
a  like  tone.  "  Hear,  too,  the  boasting  manner  in  which  she  rolls 
the  word  <  bishop'  over  her  tongue." 

"  When  and  where  became  you  first  acquainted  with  the 
Knight  ?"  inquired  Winthrop. 

"  From  early  youth,  at  Boirdly,  in  Salopshire,  England.",. 

"  Know  you  when  he  was  knighted  1" 

"  I  know  not,"  answered  the  lady. 

"  What  is  the  relation,"  inquired  Winthrop,  with  some  hesi 
tation,  "  wherein  you  stand  to  him  1" 

"  I  apprehend  not  the  meaning  of  your  question." 

"  Hath  he  not  been  your  protector  since  leaving  England?" 

"  He  hath,"  answered  the  lady. 

A  look  of  intelligence  passed  between  Dudley  and  Endicott  at 
the  answer. 

"  For  what  purpose  came  ye  into  these  parts  ?" 

"Am  I  at  a  confessional,"  demanded  the  lady,  "that  I  am 
bound  to  expose  the  secrets  of  my  soul  ?" 

"  If,   madam,"   said  Endicott,   "  you  are  familiar  with   the 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.  391 

popish  device,  practice  will  enable  you  to  answer  the  more 
glibly." 

"  Have  pity  upon  me,  gentlemen,"  said  the  lady.  "  I  am  quite 
deject  and  wretched.  Take  not  advantage  of  your  power  to 
humiliate  me  into  the  dust." 

"The  question  doth  still  remain  unanswered,"  exclaimed  Dud 
ley,  looking  at  Winthrop. 

"  Be  not  hasty,  Master  Deputy,"  said  Winthrop.  "  G-ive  the 
gentlewoman  time  to  frame  her  answers." 

"  I  ever  liked  a  quick  and  unpremeditated  response,"  said  En- 
dicott.  "  It  is  more  like  to  savor  of  the  truth." 

"  Madam,"  said  Winthrop,  "  we  await  your  reply." 

"  How  can  I  make  answer  thereto  ?"  she  said ;  "  for  what 
know  I  of  the  private  motions  of  the  mind  of  Sir  Christopher  *?" 

"  At  least,  you  can  tell  the  purpose  wherefor  you  came  1" 

"  It  was  with  no  evil  intent.  I  had  no  motive  wherefor  I 
need  be  ashamed  before  God  or  man."  • 

"  Then  why  hesitate  to  avow  it  t" 

"  I  came  influenced  by  like  motives  to  those  which  have  brought 
others  to  this  land." 

"  Know  you  aught  of  a  report  that  the  father  of  this  Sir  Chris 
topher  did  disinherit  him,  by  reason  of  his  long-continued  travels 
in  various  parts  of  Europe?" 

"  Supposing  him  to  be  dead,"  said  the  lady ;  "  I  cannot  deny  it, 
and  therefore  will  not." 

"  What  know  you  of  any  wife  or  wives  he  may  have  had?" 

"  I  know  nothing  of  them." 

"What!"  interrupted  Dudley :  "hath  he  not  confessed  unto 
thee  that  he  married  a  wife  on  his  travels,  from  whom  he  was 
divorced,  and  that  she  is  long  since  dead  ?" 

"  Ye  do  strive  to  put  words  into  my  mouth,  and  to  entangle 
me  in  my  talk,"  said  the  lady.  "  Call  you  this  justice  ?" 

"  We  are  the  interrogators,  madam,"  said  Dudley.     Looking 


392  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN   MELICE. 

at  Winthrop,  he  saw  that  the  Governor  had  fallen  back  in  his 
seat,  with  his  eyes  cast  upon  the  floor,  and  was  silent,  as  if  tired 
of  his  part  of  the  examination,  and  willing  to  relinquish  it  to 
others.  Observing  this,  the  Deputy  proceeded. 

"  May  it  please  you,  madam,  to  answer  the  question  ?" 

"  Heaven  help  me,"  she  said.  "  My  poor  brain  is  so  bewil 
dered  that  I  hardly  know  what  it  is." 

"  Thou  hast  a  treacherous  memory,"  answered  Dudley  ;  "  but 
I  will  repeat  it.  It  was  concerning  certain  confessions  about 
this  Gardiner's  wife." 

"  What  confessions  ?"  said  the  lady. 

"  Prevaricate  not,  nor  think  to  blind  me,"  he  answered.  "  The 
facts  are  of  public  notoriety,  and  it  will  not  profit  to  deny 
them." 

"  If  I  deny  them  I  am  not  to  be  believed,  and  the  denial  would 
only  bring  down  upon  my  head  additional  insult ;  then  why 
tempt  so  hard  a  fate  ?  Tell  me  what  you  would  have  me  say, 
and  I  will  endeavor  to  conform  to  your  wishes." 

"  Woman  !"  said  Dudley,  sternly,  "  trifle  not.  Answer  me — 
aye,  or  nay." 

"  Thou  hast  thine  answer,"  said  the  lady,  with  some  spirit,  as 
if  goaded  into  resistance  by  the  severity  of  the  treatment. 

"  I  am  content,"  said  Dudley.  "  Thou  knowest  that  falsehood 
were  in  vain." 

"  Madam,"  now  took  up  Endicott  the  word,  "  we  have  not  as 
yet  been  favored  with  your  name." 

"  It  is  Geraldine  De  Vaux." 

"  Hast  never  another  t" 

"  What  mean  you,  sir !"  she  exclaimed,  with  a  startled  air. 
"  What  other  name  *" 

11 1  mean,  plainly — is  not  thy  name  Mary  Grove  f 

At  the  question,  the  lady,  unable  longer  to  control  herself, 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICB.      393 

burst  into  tears.  Quickly  recovering  herself,  however,  and  dry 
ing  her  eyes,  she  said  : 

"  The  wicked  man  who  first  insulted  me  with  the  name  and 
the  infamy  connected  therewith  is  dead.  Dread  ye  not  a  like 
judgment  on  yourselves1?" 

"  Thou  dost  ill  to  remind  us,"  observed  an  Assistant,  "  that 
thou  art,  according  to  thine  own  opinion,  in  some  sort,  a  cause 
of  the  death  of  our  brother,  Spikeman,  and  to  threaten  us  with 
his  fate." 

"  I  threatened  not.  I  did  but  repel  a  wrongful  accusation," 
said  the  lady,  more  humbly. 

"  Yet  dost  thou  not  deny  the  name  ?"  persisted  Endicott. 

"  If  it  availed,  I  would  deny  it ;  but  I  see  that  ye  are  all 
leagued  together  to  persecute  me  unto  the  death.  Not  my  will," 
she  sighed,  folding  her  hands  and  looking  up,  "  but  Thine  bo 
done  !" 

"  Wilt  thou  say  nothing  more  touching  this  subject?"  inquired 
Endicott. 

"  I  desire  to  say  nothing  thereupon,  except  to  protest  against 
the  injurious  constructions  you  seem  determined  to  put  on  all 
that  I  can  say." 

"How  hath  it  happened,"  continued  Endicott,  "that  you 
have  never  appeared  with  the  congregation,  in  the  Lord's 
house  ?" 

"  Consider  the  distance  we  did  live  in  the  woods,  and  the  diffi 
culty  of  the  travel,"  answered  the  lady,  deprecatingly.  "  But, 
has  not  Sir  Christopher  attended  f 

Endicott  paid  no  attention  to  the  question,  but  went  on. 

"  What  is  thy  profession  of  faith  f ' 

"  I  am  a  Christian,  and  most  miserable  sinner." 

"  Aye,  but  Protestant  or  Catholic  T 

"  Protestant,"  answered  the  lady,  with  an  inflexion  of  the 
voice  which  made  it  difficult  to  decide  whether  the  word  was  in- 

17 


394  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

tended  for  an  ejaculation,  a  question,  or  a  declaration.  "  Holy 
Virgin  !"  she  murmured,  so  low  as  not  to  be  overheard,  "  forgive 
me  this  half  lie.  Not  for  my  own  sake  do  my  lips  utter  it,  arid 
my  heart  abhors  it." 

The  answer  seemed  to  take  Endicott  by  surprise. 

"  Have  heed  to  thy  words,"  he  said.  "  We  are  well  advised 
that  this  runnigadoe  and  thyself  were,  until  of  late  at  least,  at 
Borne." 

"You  seem  to  know  all  things,"  said  the  lady,  scornfully, 
"  and  I  wonder  why  ye  trouble  yourselves  with  anything  that  an 
ignorant  woman  can  say.  Have  it  as  you  will." 

"  Hath  not  our  examination  proceeded  far  enough  ?"  asked 
Sir  Richard.  "  Is  there  aught  else  ye  expect  to  elicit  ?" 

"  The  woman,  I  think,  hath  confessed  the  whole,"  said  Dudley. 
"  She  openly  admits  that  this  Gardiner,  or  whatever  else  be  his 
name,  is  her  paramour  ;  and,  for  the  remainder,  what  hath  been 
wrested  from  her  by  her  own  contradictions,  sufficiently  con 
founds  her." 

"Base  man,  it  is  false!"  cried  the  lady,  roused  into  indigna 
tion  by  the  charge.  I  have  confessed  to  naught  whereof  a  woman 
should  be  ashamed.  There  is  no  infamy  attached  to  my  name  ; 
and  as  high  as  Heaven  is  above  the  earth,  so  far  is  Sir  Christo 
pher  above  thy  craven  nature." 

"  Heyday !"  said  Dudley ;  "  it  thunders  and  lightens.  I  bandy 
not  words  with  thee,  but  the  record  of  the  Secretary  will 
show." 

"  I  find  not  the  exact  word,"  said  the  Secretary,  Master 
Nowell,  after  examining  his  minutes,  "but  she  doth  acknow 
ledge  this  pretended  Knight  as  her  protector  since  they  left  Eng 
land,  and  the  terms  are  equivalent." 

"  I  meant  it  not  so,  I  have  acknowledged  nothing  to  my 
disgrace,"  exclaimed  the  lady.  "  Ye  have  enveigled  and  entrapped 
me  by  artful  questions,  and  then  put  constructions  on  my  an- 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  395 

swers  which  do  not  belong  to  them.  A  worthy  business,  truly, 
for  grave  and  learned  men  to  be  engaged  in,  to  set  their  wits  to 
work  against  a  forlorn  woman,  to  pervert  her  language  into 
shameful  meanings." 

"Madam,"  said  Winthrop,  "you  have  permission  to  retire. 
Bring  with  thee,"  he  added,  addressing  the  beadle,  "  the  little  In 
dian  girl,  without  letting  her  come  to  speech  with  this  gentlewo 
man,  and  also  Sassacus,  properly  guarded." 


CHAPTER  XXX. 


"  Vainly,  but  well,  that  Chief  had  fought, 

He  was  a  captive  now  ; 
Yet  pride,  that  fortune  humbles  not, 

Was  written  on  his  brow. 
The  scars  his  dark,  broad  bosom  wore, 
Showed  warrior  true  and  brave  ; 

A  prince  among  his  tribe  before " 

BRYAJFT. 


"A  MANIFEST  Papist !  I  can  scent  one  of  them  out  as  easily 
as  a  hound  doth  the  hare,"  said  Endicott,  after  the  lady  had 
retired. 

"  Beyond  a  peradventure,"  echoed  Dudley ;  "  and  the  attempt 
at  deception  doth  aggravate  her  guilt." 

"  I,  too,  remarked,"  said  an  Assistant,  "  that  she  possesses  not 
the  shibboleth  whereunto  she  laid  claim." 

"  Yet,  wherefore  should  they,  being  Papists,  come  hither  ?" 
said  Master  No  well.  "  I  understand  not  the  mystery  that  sur 
rounds  them." 

"A  circumstance  in  itself  suspicious,"  said  Endicott,  *'  where 
fore  needs  an  honest  intent  to  hide  its  head  ?" 

"  On  the  contrary,  it  is  ever  ready  to  show  itself  in  the  sun 
light,"  said  Master  Nowell. 

"  Know  you  what  is  expected  to  be  learned  from  the  child  *" 
asked  an  Assistant,  of  Dudley. 

"  I  surmise  our  Governor  desires  something  further  to  quiet 
his  ever-anxious  and  doubting  mind,"  answered  Dudley. 

<;I  lack  no  light  to  form  a  judgment,"  said  Endicott,  "and  a 
further  inquiry  is  supererogatory." 


398  THE   KNIGHT   OF   THE   GOLDEN   MELICE. 

"  Nevertheless,"  said  Master  Brad  street,  "  there  be  some  of  us 
on  whom  a  clear  light  hath  not  yet  shined.  My  charity  strongly 
inclines  me  to  view  this  poor  woman  in  a  less  unfavorable  light 
since  she  hath  avowed  herself  not  to  be  an  idolater  of  Rome.'* 

"Well  saith  the  Scripture,"  exclaimed  Dudley,  "that  charity 
doth  cover  a  multitude  of  sins.  The  rule  is  good  in  the  exercise 
of  judgment  in  things  pertaining  to  private  concerns,  but  in  pub 
lic  business  it  is  naught.  But  your  scruples,  and  those  of  Master 
Winthrop,  are  likely  soon  to  be  satisfied,  for  here  comes  the  little 
Canaanite." 

And  as  he  spoke  the  door  was  opened,  and  the  servitor  ap 
peared,  bringing  in  the  child. 

"  Where  is  the  other  Indian  ?"  inquired  Ehdicott. 

"  He  will  be  here  incontinently,  your  worship,"  replied  the 
man.  "  As  there  was  some  delay  in  the  needful  preparation,  I 
did  think  it  expedient  not  to  keep  your  worships  waiting,  more 
especially  as  it  would  not  be  becoming  that  ye  should  be  put  to 
inconvenience  for  a  heathen  red  skin." 

"  Reasoned  like  Aristoteles,"  said  Dudley,  laughing.  "  Give 
me  a  man  of  thy  humor,  Hezekiah  Negus,  who  rightly  appre 
hends  the  value  of  time,  and  the  danger  of  keeping  his  superiors 
dependent  on  his  laziness." 

"  Bring  hither  the  child,"  said  Winthrop. 

"  The  servitor,  in  obedience  to  the  order,  led  the  girl  to  the 
Governor's  seat,  and  placed  her  standing  by  his  side. 

"What  is  thy  name,  little  one?"  asked  Winthrop,  putting  his 
hand  upon  her  head. 

"  Neebin,"  answered  the  girl,  whose  eyes,  from  the  moment 
of  her  entrance,  had  been  scanning  the  company  and  the  room 
in  that  quiet,  covert  way,  in  which  the  Indian  is  wont  to  gratify 
his  curiosity  while  endeavoring  to  conceal  it.  At  the  same  time, 
if  she  felt  fear,  neither  her  voice  nor  manner  betrayed  it. 

"  Neebin !"  repeated  AVinthrop.  "  A  very  pretty  name,  and 
hath  a  pretty  meaning  in  English,  I  doubt  not." 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  399 

The  child,  encouraged  by  the  gentleness  of  his  voice  and  looks, 
and  perhaps  proud  of  showing  her  knowledge  of  the  language  of 
the  whites,  answered  : 

':  Neebin  is  summer." 

"Darling  Neebin,"  said  Winthrop,  whose  countenance  really 
expressed  an  interest  in  the  little  Indian,  "  hast  ever  been  taught 
thy  prayers  ?" 

"  Neebin  knows  two  prayers." 

"  Will  she  say  them  for  me  f> 

The  child  crossed  her  arms  upon  her  bosom,  after  having  first 
made  the  sign  of  the  cross  upon  her  brow,  her  lips,  and  breast ; 
and  then,  letting  fall  the  long,  black  lashes  of  her  eye- lids,  com 
menced  repeating  the  '  pater-noster."  At  the  sign  of  the  cross, 
Dudley  started  ;  but,  as  if  recollecting  himself,  sunk  back  with  a 
groan.  After  finishing  the  pater-noster,  the  little  girl  began  the 
"  Ave  Maria ;"  but  this  was  more  than  the  scandalized  deputy 
could  endure. 

*  I  may  not,"  he  cried,  starting  up,  "  listen  without  sin  to  this 
idolatry.  Better  to  smite " 

"  I  pray  thee  to  have  a  little  patience,"  said  Winthrop,  inter 
rupting  him.  "  None  of  its  guilt  attaches  itself  to  us." 

"  I  know  not  that,"  replied  Dudley.  "  I  will  not,  like  Naaman 
the  Syrian,  bow  myself  down  in  the  house  of  Rimmon,  even  al 
though  my  master  leaneth  on  my  hand.  I  do  bear  my  testimony 
against  these  popish  incantations.7' 

The  face  of  Winthrop  flushed  at  the  taunt  conveyed,  both  in 
the  manner  and  in  the  language ;  but,  as  his  custom  was,  he 
paused  before  replying,  which  gave  opportunity  to  Endicott  to 
say: 

"  My  teeth,  also,  as  well  as  those  of  Master  Dudley,  are  set  on 
edge  ;  and  I  think  that  any  farther  inquiry  on  this  branch  of  the 
subject  may  well  be  pretermitted/' 

"  In  my  judgment,"  said  Sir  Kichard  Saltonstall,  "  it  were  well, 


400  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

inasmuch  as,  though  not  partaking  to  the  degree  of  their  delicacy 
of  the  scruples  of  the  Deputy-Governor  and  of  Master  Endicott, 
yet  do  I  respect  them,  considering  the  fountain  whence  they  flow. 
I  also  highly  approve  of  and  thank  the  Governor  for  his  judi 
cious  questions,  whereby  the  truth  hath  been  brought  to  light, 
and  what  was  a  little  dark  before  hath  been  made  plain.  But 
the  end  being  sufficiently  attained,  it  were  better,  perhaps,  not  to 
press  in  this  way  after  further  knowledge,  seeing  we  neither  need 
nor  desire  it." 

"  I  accede  to  your  wishes,  gentlemen,"  said  Winthrop,  "  though 
I  hardly  approve  of  this  cutting  short  the  answer  of  a  witness. 
Ye  shall  have,  however,  your  will." 

"  What !"  exclaimed  Dudley ;  "  not  when  the  answer  is  blas 
phemous,  or  idolatrous,  or  otherwise  impious  f 

"  We  will  have  no  argument  thereupon,  Master  Dudley,"  said 
Winthrop.  "  Your  desire  is  granted,  and  that,  methinks,  should 
satisfy  you." 

The  door  now  opened,  and  Sassacus  entered  between  two  sol 
diers,  clanking  the  fetters  on  his  wrists  as  he  moved.  Alas ! 
confinement,  though  short,  had  not  been  without  baleful  effect  on 
the  Sagamore.  Not  that  he  appeared  cast  down  or  humiliated  ; 
not  that  his  gait  was  uncertain,  or  his  bearing  less  proud  ;  but  a 
shadow,  the  shadow  of  a  prison-house,  encompassed  him.  The 
iron  was  evidently  beginning  to  enter  his  soul.  The  free  denizen 
of  the  boundless  forest  could  no  more  live  without  liberty,  than 
flame  without  air.  He  was  like  an  eagle  struck  down  from  his 
home  in  the  clouds, 

"  Sailing  with  supreme  dominion, 
Through  the  azure  deep  of  air," 

to  be  chained  upon  a  stump,  and  approached  and  gazed  at  by 
every  wayfarer.  The  imperial  bird  darts  round  the  lightning  of 
his  eyes,  but  he  knows  them  to  be  innocuous,  and  his  head  droops 
at  the  consciousness. 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  401 

"  Remain  where  ye  are,"  said  an  Assistant  to  the  soldiers. 
"  The  Governor  is  engaged  at  this  moment." 

"  Can  Neebin,"  said  Winthrop.  resuming  his  interrogatories, 
"  tell  me  where  is  Sir  Christopher  Gardiner  ?" 

"  Flower  of  the  forest  and  of  the  wild  rushing  stream,"  ex 
claimed  Sassacus,  in  his  own  language,  "  be  to  him  as  the  rock 
to  which  the  wind  whispers  an  idle  tale." 

"  What  says  he  ?"  inquired  the  Assistants  of  one  another,  not 
one  of  whom  understood  more  than  here  and  there  a  word." 

"  Let  the  chief  keep  silent,"  said  Winthrop,  addressing  Sassa 
cus.  "  He  will  soon  have  an  opportunity  to  say  what  he  will ;" 
and  he  repeated  the  question. 

But  the  little  Indian  showed  herself  no  longer  docile  as  be 
fore,  but  to  every  question  returned  a  stubborn  silence. 

"  We  have  made  a  mistake  in  bringing  in  the  chief,"  said  an 
Assistant.  "  She  will  not  open  her  lips  again.  He  hath  said 
something  to  frustrate  our  inquiries." 

"  Thou  hast  rightly  divined,"  said  Winthrop,  after  another 
vain  attempt  to  induce  the  child  to  speak.  "  And  now  what 
shall  be  done  ?  for  I  hold  it  unmeet  that  she  should  be  sent  back 
to  the  source  whence,  instead  of  the  Gospel  truth  she  should  have 
been  taught,  she  hath  sucked  only  error." 

"  That  were  indeed  a  deadly  unkindness  to  the  poor  fawn," 
said  Sir  Richard,  "  seeing  it  would  be  imperiling  her  eternal  sal 
vation." 

"  Better,"  said  Endicott,  "  that  she  should  continue  in  a  dark 
ness  penetrated  only  by  the  dim  light  of  nature  than  be  made  a 
victim  of  Roman  superstition." 

"If  any  one  of  ye,  gentlemen,  will  take  her  in  charge,"  said 
Winthrop,  "  gladly  will  I  resign  the  child  into  your  hands ;  but  if 
not,  then  will  I  receive  her  into  mine  own  household,  where,  by 
God's  grace,  the  tares  which  the  enemy  hath  sown  may  be  eradi 
cated." 

17* 


402  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   1TELICE. 

"  No  one  manifesting  a  desire  to  accept  the  offer  of  Winthrop, 
he  ordered  the  child  to  be  removed  to  his  own  house. 

As  the  little  girl  on  her  way  out  of  the  apartment  passed  nigh 
the  chief,  she  stopped,  and  with  childish  impatience  strove  to 
take  the  manacles  from  his  arms.  A  sad  smile  crossed  the  face 
of  Sassacus  at  her  vain  attempt,  and  he  said : 

"  They  are  the  presents  of  Ovvanux.     Neebin  will  not  forget." 

"  Allow  no  farther  speech  between  them,"  cried  Winthrop,  as 
the  Sagamore  commenced  saying  something  more.  "  Part  them, 
and  take  her  instantly  away." 

"  Waqua.  or  Sassacus,  or  whatever  be  thy  name,"  said  Win 
throp,  "  wherefore,  being  at  peace  with  my  people,  have  you  slain 
two  of  my  men." 

The  chief  looked  steadily  at  the  questioner,  but  returned  no 
answer. 

"  We  know,"  said  the  Governor,  "  that  thou  hast  sufficient 
knowledge  of  our  tongue  to  make  thyself  intelligible,  for  thou 
hast  conversed  with  me.  Speak,  lest  for  thy  refusal  it  should  go 
the  harder  with  thee." 

Thus  addressed,  Sassacus  surveyed  with  an  indignant  look  his 
chains,  and  then  stretching  out  one  of  his  arms  as  far  as  his  bonds 
permitted,  spoke  in  a  bold  tone  several  sentences  in  his  own  lan 
guage  in  reply. 

"The  spirit  of  the  old  proverb,"  said  an  Assistant,  "that  one 
may  lead  a  horse  to  water,  nathless  it  will  be  impossible  to  com 
pel  him  to  drink,  applies,  it  seems,  as  well  to  Indians  as  to 
horses." 

"  Why  sit  here  to  be  scorned  by  this  unbreeched  heathen  ?" 
cried  Dudley.  "  Away  with  him  !  He  was  taken  in  the  very 
act,  and  can  render  no  excuse  for  this  devilish  malignity." 

"  Under  favor,"  said  Sir  Richard,  "  that  were  but  a  hasty  con 
clusion.  It  is  only  Christian  mercy  to  labor  with  him  a  little 
more." 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.      403 

"  It  may  be,"  said  Winthrop,  "  that  on  an  occasion  so  mo 
mentous,  he  distrusts  his  ability  worthily  to  defend  himself  in  a 
speech  wherewith  he  is  imperfectly  acquainted.  He  must  not 
be  condemned  unheard.  The  flashes  of  nobility  I  have  discovered 
in.  him  did  once  prepossess  me  greatly  in  his  favor,  and,  therefore, 
if  for  nought  else,  would  I  be  indulgent.  But,  besides,  he  is  a 
man  whose  blood  is  not  to  be  spilled  like  a  wild  animal's," 

"  Be  it  so,"  said  Dudley.  "  If  ye  can  make  him  speak,  I  will 
promise  to  listen." 

"  Samoset  is  in  the  settlement,  and  may  be  instantly  forth 
coming,"  suggested  Master  Nowell. 

"Let  him  then  be  called,"  said  Winthrop. 

But  a  short  time  elapsed  before  the  messenger  returned  with 
the  Indian,  Samoset,  who,  in  consequence  of  his  superior  ac 
quaintance  with  the  English  language,  had  often  acted  as  inter 
preter  between  his  countrymen  and  the  white  strangers.  This 
knowledge  he  had  acquired  from  his  intercourse  with  the  English 
fishermen,  before  the  wanderers  who  erected  their  tabernacle  at 
Shawmut  arrived  in  the  country.  He  was  a  quick,  apprehensive 
fellow,  who,  on  account  of  the  services  he  had  rendered  the  colo 
nists,  stood  high  in  their  favor,  and  was  treated  with  considerable 
confidence.  No  sign  of  recognition  passed  betwixt  him  and  Sas- 
sacus  on  his  entrance,  but  they  regarded  one  another  as  strangers. 
"  We  have  called  thee,  Samoset,"  said  Winthrop,  "  to  inter 
pret  between  us  and  this  prisoner.  Ask  him  if  he  acknowledges 
himself  to  be  the  famous  chief  of  the  Pequots." 

"  Tell  him,"  replied  Sassacus,  "  that  I  am  that  eagle  at  whose 
scream  the  Narraghansetts  hide  themselves  like  little  birds  in  the 
bushes." 

"  A  bold  answer,"  said  Winthrop.  "  Ask  him  now,  where 
fore  he  hath  been ,  lurking  in  the  woods  in  the  vicinity  of  our 
lodges." 

"  The  feet  of  Sassacus,"  answered  the  chief,  "  tread  upon  the 


404  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

forest  leaves  at  his  pleasure.  His  ancestors  never  inquired  of  the 
Taranteens  nor  of  the  Narragh  an  setts  where  they  should  hunt, 
and  he  will  not  ask  permission  of  the  strangers  with  beards." 

"  Frank  and  defiant,"  muttered  Endicott.     "  Come,  I  like  this." 

"The  forests  are  very  wide,"  said  Winthrop,  "and  the  game 
is  not  so  abundant  in  our  immediate  neighborhood.  There  must 
be  some  more  particular  reason  for  thy  conduct." 

"Listen,  O,  white  chief!"  returned  the  Indian.  "The  path 
whereon  the  tongue  of  Sassacus  travels  is  a  straight  path.  A 
great  chief  disdains  to  tell  a  lie.  Know  then,  that,  for  a  long,  long 
time — our  oldest  men  cannot  recollect  so  far  back,  for  they  heard 
the  legend  from  their  grandfathers,  and  they  again  from  theirs — 
it  hath  been  told  among  us,  that  a  race  with  a  skin  like  the 
snow  should  come  to  our  land,  with  strange  manners,  and  speak 
ing  a  strange  language ;  and  when  I  heard  of  Owanux,  I  came  to 
see  whether  they  were  the  men,  for  it  becomes  a  chief  to  watch 
for  his  people." 

"  And  what  said  the  tradition,"  asked  Winthrop,  "  should  be 
the  fate  of  the  two  races?" 

"Tell  him  not,  O,  Samoset!  my  friend,  who  hast  eaten  with 
me  from  the  same  pot — that  the  legend,  sadder  than  the  wail  of 
warriors  from  an  unsuccessful  expedition  over  the  dead ;  than 
the  sobs  of  the  wintry  wind  around  the  grave  of  my  first-born — 
that,  like  the  cloud  in  the  full  moon,  we  were  to  waste  away,  and 
the  intruders  to  occupy  our  hunting  grounds." 

"  He  says,"  said  Samoset,  interpreting  to  suit  the  chief,  "  that 
the  Indians  were  to  drive  the  strangers,  as  the  wind  whirls  the 
leaves  into  little  heaps." 

"  There  will  be  two  words  to  that  bargain,"  said  Dudley.  "  I 
trow  it  will  take  more  than  one  Powah  to  make  me  believe  such 
a  story." 

"'*  It  is  the  inspiration  of  the  devil,  who  is  ever  the  father  of 
lies,"  observed  Endicott.  "  Go  to,  with  nonsense  like  this,  but  I 
do  admire  the  brave  bearing  of  the  savage." 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  TRE  GOLDEN  MELICE.      405 

"  Yet  is  it  an  unfortunate  belief  to  prevail  among  the  natives," 
said  Master  Bradstreet.  "  If  extensively  entertained,  it  may  be 
fraught  with  great  peril." 

UA  cunning  invention  of  the  Powahs,  no  doubt,  to  sustain 
the  fainting  courage  of  their  deluded  followers,"  said  Sir  Richard. 

"  Give  me  three  hundred  stout  and  well-armed  fellows,  trusting 
in  the  Lord,  and  careful  to  keep  their  powder  dry  and  bullets 
ready,  and  I  will  so  take  the  conceit  out  of  their  red-skins,  from 
the  Kennebec  to  the  mouth  of  the  Connecticut,  that  they  will 
never  tell  this  story  again,"  said  Endicott. 

"  Ask  him,"  proceeded  Winthrop,  "if  this  Sir  Christopher 
Gardiner  is  his  friend." 

"  Soog-u-gest  is  my  brother,"  answered  the  Sagamore. 

"Does  he  know  the  occasions  of  Soog-u-gest's  frequent  ab 
sences  from  home  ?" 

"  He  hunted  sometimes  with  Sassacus,"  was  the  answer. 

"  And  what  knows  he  of  the  woman  ?" 

"  She  is  the  sister  of  Soog-u-gest." 

"  Is  she  not  his  wife  ?"  demanded  Dudley. 

But  Sassacus,  merely  shaking  his  head,  made  no  reply. 

"  The  proud  savage  disdains  to  answer  your  question,  Master 
Dudley,"  observed  Endicott,  with  a  smile. 

"  Nay,"  answered  Dudley.   "  It  is  because  he  cannot  deny  it." 

"  We  will  see,"  said  Winthrop  ;  and  he  put  the  question. 

It  was  as  Endicott  (better  acquainted  from  his  longer  residence 
in  the  country  than  the  others  with  the  feelings  of  the  natives) 
had  suggested,  for  now  Sassacus  spoke  without  hesitation. 

"  Soog-u-gest  is  the  woman's  brother.  His  wigwam  is  large. 
The  woman  and  Neebin,  the  little  sister  of  Sassacus,  live  in  one 
part,  and  Soog-u-gest  and  his  men  in  the  other." 

An  expression  of  great  astonishment  was  visible  in  the  faces 
of  the  members  of  the  Council,  as  Sassacus  avowed  his  relation 
ship  to  the  little  girl,  but  nothing  was  said.  The  thoughtful 


406  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

countenance  of  Winthrop  became  still  more  grave,  and  a  moment 
or  two  passed  before  he  asked  the  next  question. 

"  Why  did  Sassacus  give  away  his  own  sister  ?" 

"  He  gave  her  not  away.  She  was  to  remain  to  learn  the 
wisdom  of  the  white  man,  as  the  little  bird  stays  in  the  nest 
until  it  is  strong  enough  to  fly." 

Another  pause  ensued,  for  the  reply  of  the  Sagamore  had  fur 
nished  pregnant  matter  for  thought,  until  the  silence  was  broken 
by  the  voice  of  Winthrop. 

"  Why  did  Sassacus  attack  my  people,  and  kill  two  of  my 
men  f ' 

"  A  superfluous  question,  after  what  we  have  heard,"  said  Sir 
Richard  Saltonstall. 

"  Nevertheless,  it  is  involved  in  the  purpose  for  which  the  In 
dian  was  brought  before  us,  and  he  shall  have  the  benefit  of  a 
reply,  Sir  Richard,"  answered  the  Governor. 

"  Is  it  an  earnest  question  the  white  chief  asks,"  demanded 
the  Pequot  chief.  "  Why  does  the  bear  attack  the  hunter  who 
has  robbed  her  of  her  cubs  ?  Shall  Sassacus  love  Neebin  less 
than  a  bear  its  cub  ?  Owanux  burned  the  lodge  of  my  friend. 
They  seized  his  sister  and  Neebin,  and  carried  them  away,  and 
their  chief  asks  why  Sassacus  fought  for  his  friends,  and  for  the 
daughter  of  many  Sachems !  What  white  man  ever  before  was 
hurt  by  Sassacus  ?  Who  ever  came  to  his  lodge,  and  he  set 
not  a  meal  before  him  ?  Who  ever  was  tired,  and  Sassacus  gave 
him  not  a  skin  whereon  to  lay  his  limbs  ?  When  the  white  chief 
burns  our  lodges,  and  carries  away  captive  our  women  and  chil 
dren  in  the  dark,  must  Sassacus  run  with  a  bowl  of  succotash  to 
refresh  him,  after  his  great  victory?" 

"  A  shrewd  retort  withal,  and,  according  to  the  law  of  nature, 
and  of  the  woods,  an  all-sufficient  justification,"  said  Sir  Richard 
Saltonstall,  who  had  been  opposed  to  the  plan  to  capture  the 
Knight  from  the  beginning. 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  407 

"  And  yet  none  other  than  I  expected,"  said  Winthrop,  whose 
generous  design  in  allowing  the  chief  to  exculpate  himself  in  his 
own  way  was  only  now  understood.  "  Gentlemen,"  he  added, 
desirous  to  take  advantage  of  the  favorable  impression  produced 
by  the  Sagamore's  reply,  "  what  remains  but  to  remand  our  pri 
soner,  unless  it  be  your  intention  to  discharge  him  in  considera 
tion  of  the  provocation,  and  that  he  can  hardly  be  said  to  be  as 
fully  amenable  to  our  laws  as  they  who  understand  what  these 
laws  are." 

"  I  desire  to  express  my  hearty  astonishment,"  exclaimed  De 
puty  Dudley,  "  at  the  extraordinary  proposition  of  the  Governor. 
The  consequences  which  lie  hid  therein  are  horrible.  Are  our 
friends,  engaged  in  the  execution  of  our  orders,  to  be  slaughtered 
with  impunity,  and  thus  others  to  be  encouraged  to  like  atroci 
ties  f ' 

"  Blood  for  blood,"  thundered  Endicott.  "  If  that  of  Abel 
fell  not  to  the  ground  unavenged,  though  the  slayer  knew  no  law, 
save  that  written  in  his  heart,  to  forbid  the  deed,  so  now  may  not 
this  savage  escape.  Besides,  the  example  were  impolitic,  as  hath 
been  already  set  forth." 

Similar  opinions  were  uttered  by  almost  all  of  the  Assistants, 
being  none  other  than  were  anticipated  by  the  wily  Governor, 
who  meant  not  what  he  said,  but  desired  to  mitigate  the  severer 
counsels  of  his  associates. 

During  these  remarks,  a  conversation  in  a  low  tone  had  been 
passing  betwixt  the  Sagamore  and  Samoset. 

"  Has  the  heart  of  Samoset  turned  white  ?"  asked  the  Pequot. 

"  Samoset  is  an  Indian,"  replied  the  interpreter,  "  and  his 
heart  is  red." 

"  Has  he  forgotten  the  time  when,  with  Sassacus  and  his 
Paniese,  he  drank  of  the  Shetucket,  where  it  bounds  into  the 
river  of  the  Pequots,  when  he  was  thirsty  with  driving  the  Narra- 
ghansetts  over  the  hills,  like  leaves  chased  by  the  wind  *?" 


408      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

"  Samoset  has  not  forgotten." 

"  Does  he  powah  with  Owanux,  or  is  he  true  to  the  faith  of 
his  fathers  ?" 

"  The  feet  of  Samoset  will  chase  the  deer  and  the  bear  over  the 
happy  hunting  grounds,  whither  his  fathers  have  gone.  He 
would  not  know  what  to  do  in  the  heaven  of  Owanux." 

"  Then  is  not  Samoset  my  brother,  and  lies  he  not  close  to 
the  heart  of  Sassacus,  as  a  pappoose  nestles  up  to  its  mother1?" 

"  Samoset  will  do  the  bidding  of  the  great  Sagamore,"  said 
the  interpreter,  anticipating  what  was  to  follow. 

"  Go  then,  my  friend,  my  brother,  terror  of  the  Narraghansetts, 
praise  of  the  valiant  Pequots,  and  find  Soog-u-gest.  Tell  him 
that  the  blood  of  Sassacus  is  running  away,  like  water  from  an 
overturned  vessel,  and  that  soon  all  will  be  spilled,  unless  he 
comes  to  set  up  the  vessel.  Tell  him  to  come  quickly,  and  deli 
ver  the  great  Sagamore  of  the  Pequots,  and  his  sister,  and  the 
young  man  with  eyes  like  the  sky." 

"  The  feet  of  the  blue  eyes  are  free,"  said  Samoset.  "  I  saw 
him  only  a  little  while  ago." 

"  Good  !"  said  the  chief.  "  Then  seek  first  my  young  friend,  for 
he  loves  Sassacus,  ani  tell  him,  and  do  what  he  says.  But  if 
they  cannot  help,  fly,  like  the  swallow  over  the  hills  and  streams, 
to  the  hunting  grounds  of  my  tribe,  and  say  to  my  people  that 
their  Sachem  is  a  wolf  in  a  trap,  and  Neebin  a  slave  to  Owanux." 

"  What  says  he?"  inquired  Endicott,  whose  attention  had  been 
attracted  by  the  longer  speech,  and  somewhat  raised  tone  of  the 
Sagamore's  voice. 

"He  says,"  answered  Samoset,  drawing  readily  on  his  inven 
tion,  "  that  a  great  Sachem  ought  not  to  be  put  into  a  box  for 
killing  wolves  who  run  into  his  wigwam." 

A  pleased  expression  lighted  up  the  face  of  the  captive  chief 
at  the  answer,  which  he  perfectly  understood,  as  indeed  he  had 
much  that  had  been  spoken.  His  a^  oiding  to  use  the  English  Ian- 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  409 

guage,  as  through  ignorance,  having  had  for  him,  at  least,  the 
advantage  of  putting  his  examiners  off  their  guard,  and  inducing 
them  to  speak  more  freely  in  his  hearing.  The  tone  of  Samoset's 
voice,  and  the  reply,  satisfied  the  Pequot  that  he  was  secure  of 
the  interpreter's  fidelity,  and  he  stretched  out  both  his  arms,  as 
though  grasping  his  recovered  liberty. 

Endicott  bent  his  brow  at  the  reply,  as  a  suspicion  darted 
through  his  jealous  mind ;  but  the  stolid  mien  of  the  Indian,  who 
bore  the  look  as  if  he  had  been  a  statue  carved  out  of  the  heart 
of  the  cedars  of  his  native  hills,  baffled  his  penetration. 

"Why  do  I  distrust  him?"  he  murmured,  under  his  thick 
moustache.  "  Yet  is  distrust  the  mother  of  safety,  and  in  our 
situation  a  duty." 

"  Let  him  return  now,"  said  Winthrop,  "  and  take  order  that 
every  comfort  be  supplied  consistent  with  safe  keeping.  Noble 
Sassacus,"  he  added,  "  it  grieves  me  that  we  meet  and  part  thus." 

The  savage,  who,  through  the  whole  interview,  could  not  mis 
take  the  favorable  sentiments  of  Winthrop,  answered  as  before, 
in  his  own  Pequot  tongue. 

"  Sassacus  understands  the  thoughts  of  chiefs,  for  he  is  one 
himself.  The  voice  of  the  long  knife  (alluding  to  the  rapier 
worn  by  Winthrop)  is  not  so  unpleasant  to  him  as  those  of  these 
counsellors,  and  he  hopes  that  what  he  is  about  to  say 
will  be  listened  to  as  the  words  of  a  great  Sagamore.  Sassacus  is 
very  tired  of  lying  in  a  box,  but  not  afraid  to  die.  Let  him  de 
part  to  his  o  vvn  country,  or  if  the  white  chief  will  kill,  let  him, 
with  his  long  knife,  pierce  the  bosom  of  Sassacus,  for  the  blood 
of  a  chief  should  be  shed  by  a  chief." 

"  It  may  not  be,  noble  savage,"  said  Winthrop,  mournfully. 
"  Such  is  not  our  custom.  Yet  be  not  cast  down,  but  rely  upon 
our  justice." 

The  withdrawal  of  the  captives  was  a  signal  for  the  discussion 
of  what  had  been  elicited  by  their  examination.  It  had  con- 


410  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

firmed  suspicions  before  entertained,  and  more  than  that,  revealed 
an  intimacy  betwixt  the  Knight  and  Pequots,  a  warlike  and  rest 
less,  though  not  numerous  tribe,  which  filled  the  minds  of  the 
Assistants  with  apprehension.  If  the  influence  of  Sir  Christopher 
(whom  not  one  doubted  to  be  a  Catholic)  extended  as  far  as  they 
suspected,  he  might  make  himself  a  formidable  enemy.  He  had 
been  able  to  induce  the  chief  of  the  Pequots  to  intrust  to  him  his 
own  sister,  to  be  taught  the  Catholic  faith,  doubtless  intending  to 
make  her  conversion  the  means  of  extending  among  the  tribes 
the  superstitions  of  Popery.  The  success  of  the  plan  was  fraught 
with  danger  to  the  colony,  for  the  new  religion  would  be  a  means 
of  reconciling  the  differences  of  the  tribes,  and  binding  them 
together,  in  a  common  union  with  the  Eastern  Indians,  already 
much  under  the  influence  of  the  Romish  priests.  Favored  se 
cretly  or  openly  by  the  French  government,  which  they  were  sure 
to  be,  and  supplied  with  fire-arms,  they  might  become  too  pow 
erful  to  be  resisted,  and,  reversing  the  campaign  of  the  Israelites 
in  the  wilderness,  drive  out  those  who  had  intruded  into  their 
Canaan,  only  themselves  to  fall  finally  a  prey  to  the  French,  and 
to  have  one  form  of  idolatry  substituted  for  another.  Sternly 
frowned  Dudley,  and  grimly  stroked  Endicott  his  tufted  chin,  as 
they  revolved  such  thoughts,  and  inly  vowed,  as  they  trusted  in 
the  God  of  Jacob,  that  such  things  should  not  be.  The  conclu 
sion  to  which  the  council  came,  was  that  the  Pequot  and  the 
woman  should  be  detained  in.  custody  until  the  Knight  was  taken, 
whose  capture  they  considered  not  difficult,  and  that  then  the 
fate  of  the  three  should  be  decided. 

As  for  Samoset,  he  sought  Arundel  at  the  earliest  opportunity 
when  he  could  do  so  unnoticed,  and  acquainted  him  with  the 
message  of  the  chief.  With  this  coadjutor  it  was  easy  to  estab 
lish  a  communication  with  his  friends  in  the  forest,  the  conse 
quences  of  which  Will  presently  be  seen. 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 


The  waithman  goode  of  Silverwoode, 

That  bowman  stout  and  hende, 
In  donjon  gloom  abides  his  doom — 

God  dele  him  gentil  ende. 

It  breaks  true  herte  to  see  him  stert, 

When  as  the  small  birds  sing, 
And  then  to  hear  his  sighynges  drere, 

Whereas  his  fetters  ring. 

OLD  BALLAD. 


IN  order  to  secure  the  person  of  the  Knight  of  the  Golden 
Melice,  several  small  parties  were  dispatched  to  scour  the  forest — 
another  object  being  to  protect  the  remoter  colonists  against 
wandering  Taranteens,  should  any  have  the  temerity  to  venture 
near  the  settlement.  A  reward  was  offered  to  the  Indians  for 
the  apprehension  of  Sir  Christopher — strict  injunctions  being 
given  that  he  should  be  taken  alive.  An  increased  vigilance 
also  was  exercised  over  the  rude  prison  wherein  the  captives  were 
confined — a  soldier  being  kept  constantly  on  guard  before  its  en 
trance. 

On  the  plot  in  front  the  sentry  was  pacing  his  round  on  a  night 
which  was  dark  and  threatening.  No  rain  had  fallen,  but  the 
clouds  were  constantly  becoming  denser,  and  it  was  plain  that  a 
storm  might  soon  be  expected.  With  the  wind  rose  also  the 
voice  of  the  ocean,  murmuring  along  the  curving  shores  of  the 


412  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE. 

bay,  distinctly  heard  in  the  silence  of  the  night  by  the  solitary 
soldier,  whose  thoughts  it  carried  back  to  the  sea-beaten  island 
he  had  left. 

"An'  my  guns  deceive  me  not,"  he  said  to  himself,  "it 
should  be  past  midnight.  There  is  no  moon,  nor  star,  to  be  sure, 
to  tell  by,  but  I  have  mounted  guard  before,  and  my  feelings  let 
me  know  as  surely  as  a  dial  what's  the  hour.  Hark !  (as  a 
measured  step  was  heard  approaching)  that  must  be  Cowlson. 
Stand,"  he  cried,  "  and  give  the  countersign  !" 

"Poh!  Job  Bloyce,"  answered  a  voice.  "You  know  my 
croak  as  well  as  your  own  ;  but  babes  and  sucklings  must  be 
taught,  and  it  is  regular,  so  I  will  let  you  know  lest  you  may 
have  forgotten — the  sling  of  David." 

"  Always  full  of  thy  nonsense,"  said  Bloyce.  "  But  what 
made  thee  so  late  ?" 

"  Late  is  it  ?  It  can  be  but  a  matter  of  ten  minutes  past  twelve, 
and  it  takes  a  little  while  to  rub  one's  eyes  and  get  them  open 
after  being  called.  Hast  seen  or  heard  anything  on  thy  watch  ?" 

"  Nothing.  I  had  better  have  been  in  my  warm  bed  and 
asleep,  considering  the  hoeing  I  must  give  my  corn-field  to-mor 
row,  than  be  watching  a  skeary  Indian  and  a  woman." 

"  Thou  hast  little  need  to  trouble  thy  gizzard  on  that  score," 
returned  Cowlson ;  "  for,  an'  I  mistake  not  greatly,  the  rain  will 
fall  heavy  enough  to  spoil 'thy  chance  at  hoeing.  It  is  blacker 
than  the  darkness  in  Egypt.  I  cannot  see  the  tip  of  thy  nose." 

"  That  is  of  no  consequence.  My  nose  is  a  white  nose  and  no 
Indian's,  and  I  take  it  that  it  is  for  the  copper  skins  you  are  to 
watch." 

"  And  they  will  be  still  harder  to  be  seen.  But  I  care  not. 
I  am  good  for  ten  Indians  any  day,  though  I  expect  not  that 
they  will  venture  to  sneak  into  our  streets,  be  it  light  or  dark." 

"  Nevertheless,  keep  your  eyes  open,  for  thou  mayest  need 
them  ;  so  good  night." 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.      413 

"  Good  night,  and  shut  thine  own,  so  soon  as  Dame  Bloyce  will 
permit  thee." 

The  two  knew  not,  so  dark  was  the  night,  that  a  third  person 
stood  so  near  to  them  that  he  had  overheard  the  whole  of  their 
dialogue.     Soon  after  the  departure  of  the  first  sentinel,  his  suc 
cessor,  Cowlson,  seemed  to  consider  it   of  very  little  importance 
to  make  his  rounds  with  much  diligence,  and  to  be  more  intent  on 
protecting  himself  from  the  rain,  which  began  to   fall,  than  to 
perform   his  duty.     He,  therefore,  after  a  few  turns,  ensconced 
himself  as  comfortably  as  possible  on  the  lee  side  of  the  building 
during  the  violence  of  the  storm,  taking  advantage  of  occasional 
intermissions  to  resume  his  walk.     The  stranger  waited  until  the 
little  vigilance  of  the  sentinel  was  relaxed,  and,  noting  exactly 
the  place  where  he  had  bestowed  himself,  stole  noiselessly  back 
to  a  group  of  three  or  four  persons.     Here  a  whispered  conver 
sation  was  carried  on  until  the  rain  began  to  pour  more  violently, 
when,  as  if  they  thought  it  a  favorable  moment  for  their  enter 
prise,  the  whole  party  began  to  move  forward  in  Indian  file — 
that  is  to  say,  following  one  another  in  a  line — led  by  the  man 
who  had  overheard  the  conversation  of  the  soldiers.     Such  was 
the  noise  made  by  the  falling  drops,  and  so   dark  the  night,  that 
they  had  approached  close  to  the  sentry  before  he  became  aware 
of  any  one's  presence.     An  accidental  slipping  of  one  of  the 
men  betrayed  them,  and,  presenting  his  piece,  he  demanded  the 
countersign. 

"  The  sling  of  David,"  was  the  reply,  and  the  sentry  dropped 
the  breech  of  the  musket  on  the  earth.  He  had  hardly  done  so 
before  he  was  violently  seized.  A  strong  hand  grasped  his  throat ; 
another  was  applied  to  his  mouth ;  his  piece  was  wrested  from 
him,  and,  disarmed  and  unable  to  utter  a  cry,  he  was  hurled  to 
the  ground.  His  hands  and  feet  were  then  bound  ;  a  gag  inserted 
into  his  mouth ;  his  coat  taken  off  and  muffled  around  his  head  to 
stifle  the  least  sound,  and  he  was  then  removed  to  a  little  distance 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

behind  the  building,  and  one  left  to  guard  him  and  give  notice  of 
any  approach.  The  rest  of  the  party  next  proceeded  to  the  door 
of  the  cabin  occupied  by  the  jailer  Bars.  A  light  was  burning 
inside,  but  it  was  impossible,  through  the  oiled  paper,  to  see  any 
thing  within.  He  who  appeared  to  be  the  leader,  having  disposed 
his  men  on  each  side  of  the  door,  rapped  upon  it.  No  answer 
was  returned,  and  it  was  not  until  after  repeated  rappings,  and 
the  patience  of  the  strangers  was  becoming  exhausted,  and  they 
had  begun  to  consult  respecting  bursting  open  the  door,  when 
some  one  was  heard  moving  and  growling  at  the  disturbance  of 
his  slumbers. 

"  Who  is  there  f"  he  demanded,  impatiently. 

A  low  voice  from  the  outside  now  entreated  to  be  let  in,  for  a 
moment,  out  of  the  rain. 

"  Nay,"  returned  Bars.  "  You  put  no  foot  into  my  house,  at  this 
time  of  night,  without  the  countersign." 

"The  sling  of  David,"  replied  the  voice. 

"  All  right,"  said  Bars,  beginning  to  unbar  the  door.  "  But 
what  do  you" — 

He  was  unable  to  finish  the  sentence,  for,  as  soon  as  the 
door  turned  on  its  hinges,  a  rush  was  made  by  those  on  the  out 
side,  and  poor  Bars,  half  clothed,  rudely  upset  on  the  floor. 
"  Murder,"  he  undertook  to  cry,  but  his  throat  was  choked  when 
ever  he  attempted  to  make  a  sound,  and  he  was  soon  disposed  of 
in  like  manner  as  the  sentinel,  and  thrust  into  a  corner,  after 
having  discovered  that  his  assailants  were  Indians.  All  this, 
with  however  little  noise  accomplished,  could  not  be  done  without 
disturbing  Dame  Bars,  who,  from  the  closet  where  she  slept,  in 
quired  what  was  the  matter.  One  of  the  party  thereupon  gliding 
over  the  floor  with  moccasoned  feet,  presented  himself  with  finger 
on  lip  before  her.  Terror  benumbed  the  tongue  of  the  poor 
woman  at  the  sight,  and  the  cry  she  strove  to  utter  died  in  her 
throat.  By  smiles  and  gestures  the  Indian  endeavored  to  satisfy 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.      415 

her  that  no  injury  was  designed,  and  then,  as  if  to  confirm 
his  peaceable  intentions,  retired,  drawing  the  door  after  him  ; 
and  frightened,  though  in  some  slight  degree  re-assured,  the 
dame  employed  the  respite  in  clothing  herself  in  her  day-ap 
parel. 

Meanwhile,  one  of  the  Indians,  who  had  found  two  or  three 
large  keys  tied  together,  had  taken  them  from  the  peg  where  they 
hung  and  proceeded  to  the  prison.  His  actions  evinced  a  strange 
familiarity  with  the  place.  He  advanced  straight  to  the  prison 
door,  and,  fitting  the  key,  presently  stood  in  the  narrow  passage 
which  ran  round  the  two  cells  into  which  the  central  part  was 
divided.  Only  one  of  these  was  locked.  Opening  it,  he  called, 
in  a  low  tone — "  Sassacus." 

"Who  wants  Sassacus  1"  asked  the  chief  in  his  own  lan 
guage  out  of  the  darkness,  for  the  stranger  had  come  without 
a  light. 

"  I  do  not  understand  your  gibberish,"  answered  the  other. 
"  Know  you  not  Philip's  voice J?" 

"  Thou  hast  come  to  place  the  feet  of  Sassacus  on  the  forest 
leaves.  Quick !  O  good  white  man !  and  free  him,"  cried  the 
impatient  chief. 

Philip,  guided  by  the  sounds,  bent  down,  and  feeling  for  the 
shackles  which  confined  the  legs  of  the  captive,  soon  unfastened 
them,  and  the  liberated  Sagamore  stretched  out  with  delight  his 
cramped  limbs.  "  Sassacus,"  he  said,  "  shall  see  again  the 
pleasant  river  of  the  Pequots,  and  he  will  deliver  Neebin  from 
the  robbers."  Then  following  Joy,  the  two  entered,  noiselessly, 
the  cabin  of  the  jailer. 

During  the  absence  of  Joy,  a  scene  of  a  different  kind  had 
been  passing.  The  Lady  Geraldine,  aroused  by  the  sounds,  had 
left  her  couch,  and  appeared  among  the  intruders.  She  man 
ifested  no  fear  at  sight  of  the  Indians,  (for  what  had  she  to 
dread  from  those  who  had  always  shown  her  kindness  f)  and 


416      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

when  one  of  them  glided  to  her  side,  she  strove  not  to  avoid 
him. 

"  Celestina  !"  said  a  well-known  voice  in  her  ear,  "  hasten  to 
accompany  me  from  this  wretched  den,  and  the  tyranny  of  your 
oppressors." 

She  started  at  the  first  sound,  but  quickly  recovering  herself, 
replied,  in  a  tone  as  low : 

"  Of  what  avail  ?  My  usefulness  here  is  ended.  I  will  give 
place  to  another,  and  Heaven  will  employ  me  somewhere 
else." 

"  Be  it  so,"  said  the  Knight ;  "  yet  fly,  for  the  sake  of  thy 
liberty,  perhaps  of  thy  life." 

"  I  fear  not  for  my  life,"  she  added ;  "  and  as  for  my  liberty,  I 
cannot  long  be  deprived  of  it." 

"  Time  flies !  What  madness  is  this?  I  have  risked  my  life 
to  rescue  thee,  and  now  dost  thou  reject  my  service  ?" 

"  I  cannot  fly  with  thee.     Better  to  die." 

"  What  strange  language  do  I  hear  ?  What  mean  you  ?  Ex 
plain  quickly,  for  our  time  is  short." 

"  I  have  no  explanation,  except  that  I  will  not  go.  The  here 
tics  may  rage,  but  the  virgin  will  protect  me." 

"  O,  listen !"  urged  the  Knight.  "  You  shall  be  delivered  from 
this  atrocious  persecution.  I  will  take  thee  to  the  French  set 
tlements,  where  thou  wilt  be  secure,  and  mistress  of  thine  own 
movements." 

"  And  thereby  seem  to  admit  the  truth  of  all  wherewith  we 
are  charged.  That  were  in  some  sort  a  betrayal  of  our  trust, 
and  what  neither  thou  nor  I  may  do." 

"  Call  you  the  preservation  of  our  liberty  and  lives  a  betrayal 
of  trust  ?  Celestina,  grief  hath  crazed  thy  brain." 

"  Nay,  Sir  Christopher,  I  have  thought  over  all  these  things, 
and  the  virgin  inspires  my  determination.  I  will  do  nought  to 
confirm  a  suspicion  already  entertained,  that  we  are  Catholics, 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  417 

which  would  be  turned  into  certainty,  were  we  to  take  refuge 
among  our  French  neighbors.  Thus  should  we  make  the  task 
more  difficult  for  the  successors  who  must  take  our  places,  since 
we  have  been  found  unworthy." 

"  Then  we  will  remain  among  the  Indians,  if  that  please  thee 
better." 

"  To  bring  trouble  upon  them  for  their  hospitality ;  to  cause 
them  to  be  hunted  on  our  account,  like  wild  beasts.  Thy 
generosity  would  disdain  safety  purchased  by  another's  suf 
fering." 

"  We  will  go  to  some  distant  tribe.  Anything  is  better  than 
to  remain  in  the  hands  of  these  pitiless  fanatics." 

"  I  dread  them  not,"  answered  Sister  Celestina,  loftily.  "  The 
talisman  of  the  true  faith  will  preserve  me." 

"  Is,  then,  thy  resolution  fixed  beyond  change  ?  Will  no 
prayers,  no  entreaties  change  thee?" 

"  It  is  better  thus :  the  poor  Sister  Celestina  knows  how  to 
suffer  and  to  die,  but  not  how  to  desert  the  post  entrusted  to  her 
by  her  superiors." 

At  this  moment  Joy  and  Sassacus  entered,  and  the  former, 
approaching  the  Knight,  informed  him  that  all  was  ready  for 
a  start. 

"I  am  ready,"  said  the  Knight.  "Yet,  once  again,  before  I 
hasten  away,  O,  Celestina,  come !  I  cannot  bear  to  leave  thee 
with  these  men  with  natures  rougher  than  the  savage." 

"  If  I  were  to  tell  thee  all,"  she  said,  moved  by  his  importuni 
ties,  "  thou  thyself  wouldst  bid  me  remain.  Noble  gentleman  ! 
unfortunate  and  slandered  Knight,  save  thyself  from  thine  ene 
mies.  Hasten  away ;  there  is  danger  in  every  moment's  delay. 
Whatever  may  become  of  me,  no  fault  is  thine." 

She  took  his  hand  in  hers,  and  as  she  pressed  it  to  her  lips,  the 
Knight  felt  a  tear  trickling  over  its  surface. 

"  Farewell,  then,"  he  said,  "  since  it  must  be  so  ;  but  I 

18 


418      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

will  hover  near  to  assist  thee,  shouldst  thou  change  thy  reso 
lution." 

He  turned  away,  greeted  the  Sagamore,  and,  with  his  fol 
lowers,  began  to  leave  the  cabin.  As  he  passed  the  jailer,  he 
stooped,  and,  removing  the  gag  from  his  mouth,  looked  at  him 
steadily  an  instant,  and  then  placed  two  broad  gold  pieces  on  the 
floor  before  him. 

The  lady  pursued  with  her  eyes  the  retreating  figures  till  swal 
lowed  up  by  the  darkness.  "  I  will  bear  my  cross  as  I  may," 
she  said  to  herself,  "for  I  deserve  it  for  all  my  unhappy  suspi 
cions  of  his  generous  nature^  But  I  will  do  nothing  which 
may  give  further  color  to  the  malignant  charge  devised  by  the 
justly-slain  Spikeman,  and  taken  up  by  his  associates.  An 
escape  with  him  were  sure  to  do  that.  The  tongue  of  calumny 
would  wag,  and  the  finger  of  scorn  be  universally  pointed  at  me, 
and  all  would  cry,  '  aha !  we  said  it.'  Such  triumph  shall  not 
mine  enemies  have  over  me." 

Her  meditations  were  interrupted  by  Bars,  who  now  begged 
her  to  release  him  from  bondage,  or  call  his  wife  to  do  the 
friendly  office  for  him. 

"  I  desire  to  take  you  to  witness,"  said  the  lady,  "  that,  though 
flight  was  in  my  power,  I  have  not  availed  myself  of  the  oppor 
tunity.  Say  that  to  my  oppressors,  to  increase  the  guilt  of  their 
cruelty." 

"  I  will  say  what  you  please,"  answered  Bars,  peevishly,  "  an' 
you  will  untie  me." 

"  I  will  do  so,  if  you  promise  to  make  no  hue  and  cry." 

"  What  should  I  want  of  tramping  after*  Indians  in  the  dark, 
and  perhaps  catch  an  arrow  in  my  paunch  for  my  pains  ?" 
groaned  the  jailer ;  "  though  I  have  some  notions  of  my  own 
about  the  Indian  part  of  the  business." 

"  Trusting  thy  promise,  I  will  [relieve"  thee  from  thy  bonds," 
said  the  lady,  cutting  the  cords. 


THE    KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.  419 

"  I  made  no  promise,"  said  Bars,  as  soon  as  lie  was  set  at 
liberty,  "  though  I  will  behave  as  if  I  had.  These  be  brave  In 
dians,"  he  said  to  himself,  slyly  taking  up  the  gold,  "  and  pay 
handsomely  for  their  right  to  be  considered  such.  An'  it  be  thy 
pleasure  that  it  should  be  so,"  he  added  aloud,  "  these  golden  In 
dians  shall  remain  Indians  till  the  day  of  judgment,  for  all 
Bars " 

Dame  Bars,  now,  from  her  nook,  made  her  appearance  on  the 
scene. 

"  O,  Sam  !"  she  exclaimed,  "  be  they  gone,  and  have  not  they 
scalped  you  T' 

"  You  can  look  for  yourself,  wife,"  answered  Sam,  passing  his 
fingers  through  his  shock  of  hair,  as  if  to  satisfy  any  doubts 
of  his  own.  "  But  what  should  they  want  with  my  scalp,  I 
wonder." 

"  I  am  sure  I  can't  tell  what  they  do  with  such  things,"  said 
the  dame,  "  unless  to  cover  their  own  heads  when  they  get 
bald." 

"  A  pretty  figure,"  grunted  Bars,  "  my  red  crop  would  make 
on  the  top  of  one  of  them  salvages.  It  never  will  come  to  that, 
goody.  But  I  must  not  stay  here  talking  about  scalps,  when, 
perhaps,  the  poor  sentinel  may  have  lost  his."  And  he  started 
toward  the  door. 

"  O  do  not  go,  do  not  go,  Sam !"  said  his  wife,  throwing  her  arms 
around  him  ;  "  they  may  be  watching  for  fhee  on  the  outside." 

"  Women  be  always  cowards,"  said  the  jailer ;  "  but  thou  need 
not  hug  me  so  tight  now.  I  warrant,  having  got  what  they 
wanted,  they  are  in  the  woods  before  this  time." 

"Yet  stay  a  little  longer,"  persisted  his  wife.  "If  the  poor 
soldier  be  murdered,  thou  canst  do  him  no  good." 

"  You  forget,  goody,  that  I  am  a  public  officer,  and  must  do 
my  duty,"  said  Sam,  extricating  himself  from  her  grasp  ;  and , 
lighting  a  lantern,  he  went  out  of  doors. 


420  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE. 

Bars  directed  his  course  straight  to  the  door  of  the  prison5 
which  he  found  open. 

"It  is  as  I  expected,"  he  thought.  "  There  is  no  use  in  going 
in.  The  Indian's  long  legs  are  loping  far  away  in  the  forest,  be 
sure.  Cowlson !  friend  Cowlson  !"  he  asked,  "  art  thou  dead, 
or  only  scalped  ?" 

He  listened  for  an  answer,  but  none  was  returned.  Pro 
ceeding  round  the  little  building,  he  soon  found  what  he  sought — 
the  soldier,  tied  by  the  neck  and  heels,  in  a  most  uncomfortable 
posture,  and  soaked  with  the  rain. 

"  Humph  !"  ejaculated  Bars ;  "  these  salvages  be  learning  civi 
lization  fast.  An'  I  had  done  it  myself,  I  could  not  have  tied 
the  knot  with  more  judgment." 

The  soldier  (to  add  to  whose  misfortunes,  his  musket  was  gone, 
together  with  the  powder  and  ball  wherewith  he  had  been  fur 
nished)  felt  in  no  talking  humor,  and  sulkily  followed  the  jailer 
into  the  house,  where  he  recovered  his  speech,  and  recounted  his 
portion  of  the  adventures  of  the  night.  Bars  pretended  to  believe 
that  the  party  consisted  entirely  of  Indians ;  of  which,  however, 
Cowlson  could  by  no  means  be  persuaded  ;  "for  how,"  asked  he, 
"  could  they  learn  our  countersign  ?" 

"  They  be  cunning  vermin,"  said  Bars.  "  But  now,  that  I 
recollect,  methinks  that  when  they  deceived  me  it  sounded  a  little 
heathenish." 

"  Then,  why  did  you  admit  them  *?"  demanded  Cowlson. 

"  A  fine  question  for  you  to  ask,  Jim  Cowlson.  An'  I  had 
not,  the  chance  is  they  would  have  bowled  you  off  with  them,  as 
a  hostage  for  the  sachem,  and  like  as  not  burned  us  up  besides. 
But  the  fact  is,  I  was  half  asleep.  An'  I  had  been  wide  awake, 
perhaps  I  would  have  discovered  the  trick.  And  who  would 
have  guessed  that  Indians  knew  anything  about  countersigns  ? 
I  wonder  how  they  found  it  out." 

"  I  must  report  this  night's  work  forthwith,"  said  Cowlson, 


THE    KNIGHT    OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  421 

rising ;  "  but  I  had  almost  as  lief  have  lost  my  scalp  as  my 
musket." 

The  disconsolate  soldier  accordingly  wended  on  his  way,  to  tell 
the  best  story  he  could  to  save  himself  from  blame ;  while  Bars, 
after  relocking  his  empty  prison,  and  barring  his  door,  snuggled 
himself  alongside  his  partner  to  busy  his  rather  obtuse  brain 
with  schemes  of  a  like  nature  on  his  own  behalf. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 


*'  This  monument  shall  utter  of  the  past 
It  hath  no  tongue  ;  and  yet  Demosthenes, 
Or  Roman  Tully,  never  stirred  the  breasts 
Of  gaping  citizens  with  subtler  speech, 
Than  shall  this  pile  of  stones  the  wayfarers. 
Who  pass  this  way." 


ANONYMOUS. 


WHILE  with  rapid  steps  through  the  tempestuous  night  the 
retiring  party  were  seeking  the  forest,  one  of  them,  the  only  one 
in  the  dress  of  the  whites,  and  who  for  that  reason  had  not  ven 
tured  into  the  cabin  of  the  jailer,  but  had  kept  watch  on  the 
outside,  approaching  Sassacus,  said : 

"  Let  the  feet  of  the  chief  be  swift,  for  many  warriors  will  be 
after  him  with  the  morning  light." 

"  My  brother  !"  said  the  delighted  Sagamore,  recognizing  the 
voice  of  Arundel.  "  Let  not  my  brother  be  afraid.  The  forest 
loves  Sassacus,  and  tells  him  all  its  secrets." 

"  Yet  remain  not  here,  my  friend,  my  Sassacus,  nor  be  troubled 
about  Neebin.  I  will  take  care  of  her,  and  she  shall  be  restored 
to  thee." 

"  Sassacus  trusts  his  young  white  brother,"  said  the  Indian. 
"  He  hears  Neebin  singing  by  the  river  of  the  Peqwots." 

"  We  part  here,  and  perhaps  forever,"  said  Arundel.  "  Fare 
well,  Sagamore.  A  nobler  heart  than  thine  never  beat  in  savage 
or  Christian  bosom.  I  will  never  forget  you." , 


424  THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

He  wrung  the  hand  of  the  chief,  and,  turning,  was  instantly 
lost  in  the  darkness. 

The  occasion  permitted  no  further  words,  and,  as  the  two 
separated,  it  was  with  a  glow  of  pleasure  on  the  part  of  each. 
Arundel  reflected  with  satisfaction  on  the  success  of  his  enter 
prise,  and  the  Sagamore's  enjoyment  of  his  recovered  freedom 
was  heightened  by  the  thought  that  he  had  been  remembered  by 
one  who  had  so  much  attracted  him.  The  young  man  succeeded 
in  reaching  his  quarters  without  being  discovered,  and  we  now 
leave  him,  to  accompany  those  with  whom  he  had  been  associated. 

So  well  had  their  measures  been  taken,  and  with  such  good 
fortune  executed,  that  they  were  already  deep  in  the  woods  be 
fore  the  settlement  was  aroused  by  the  alarm  given  by  the 
sentinel. 

"  They  may  make  as  much  noise  as  they  choose,  for  their  own 
pleasure,"  said  Philip,  laughing,  as  the  report  of  the  culverins, 
which  startled  the  colonists  from  their  sleep,  were  heard ;  "  but  it 
is  only  a  useless  pother,  and  a  vain  rubbing  of  drowsy  eyes.  I 
should  like  to  see  how  valiant  Captain  Endicott  will  look,  when 
he  finds  that  the  bird  has  flown." 

"  In  thy  present  habiliments  of  a  savage  ?"   said  the  Knight. 

"  Nay,"  answered  the  soldier.  "  I  care  not  to  be  seen  naked, 
and  stained  up  like  an  Aberginian.  I  was  half  ashamed  of  my 
self,  especially  before  the  lady,  though  there  was  not  much 
light." 

"  It  were  well,"  "said  the  Knight,  "  to  cast  our  slough  before 
we  chance  to  be  seen  by  Indians,  notwithstanding  they  may  be 
friendly.  We  must  retire  deep,  too,  into  the  forest,  for  I  mistake 
much  the  character  of  Winthrop  and  his  council,  if  desperate 
means  be  not  adopted  to  avenge  the  doings  of  this  night." 

This  indeed  appeared  to  be  the  opinion  of  all,  to  judge  from  the 
haste  with  which  they  pushed  steadily  on,  resting  not  until  they 
had  reached  the  wigwam  of  the  chief  whereto  Spikeman  had 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.      425 

been  taken.  Here,  the  first  care  of  the  white  men  was  to  wash 
off  the  paint  from  their  persons,  not  without  a  half-jesting  objec 
tion  from  the  Sagamore. 

"  The  two  friends  of  Sassacus,"  he  said,  "have  Indian  hearts; 
why  should  they  not  keep  their  Indian  skins  ?  Let  them  come 
with  me,  and  they  shall  become  great  sachems  over  the  tribes 
that  listen  to  the  voice  of  the  little  salt  lake." 

Philip,  who  was  in  high  spirits  at  the  success  of  their  enter 
prise,  and  whose  philosophy  enabled  him  always  to  enjoy  the 
present  moment,  was  ready  with  an  answer. 

"  A  tempting  offer,"  he  said ;  "  and,  by  the  head  of  King 
Charles,  (his  favorite  oath),  better,  I  trow,  than  this  hand-to- 
mouth  life  we  have  lately  been  leading.  Plenty  of  bear's  meat 
and  venison,  and  no  prisons,  Sagamore !  Verily,  thy  words  are 
pleasant." 

"  The  deer  shall  come  to  lick  the  hands  of  my  brothers,  and 
the  bear  offer  his  steaks,  and  they  will  be  as  free  as  the  wind  on 
the  tops  of  the  hills.  They  shall  also  have  many  squaws,  and 
young  wives  shall  smile  on  them  when  the  old  are  wrinkled  and 
cross." 

"  Ha !  ha  !"  laughed  Philip.  "  I  misdoubt  whether  that  would 
suit  all  round.  But,  Sagamore,  if  I  should  ever  have  the  luck  to 
get  a  nice  white  squaw,  I  will  ask  her  opinion ;  and  if  she 
fancies  the  plan  of  my  having  half  a  dozen  wives,  I  will  con 
sider  it." 

"  A  truce  to  this  trifling,"  said  Sir  Christopher.  "  It  is  all 
sport  with  thee,  Philip,  but  dost  not  remark  it  begins  to  be  ear 
nest  with  the  chief?" 

"  He  is  quick-witted  enough  to  understand,"  answered  Joy. 
"  Why,  Sir  Christopher,  these  salvages  laugh  so  seldom,  that  they 
ought  to  be  encouraged  when  they  begin.  I  fear  me  that  the 
long  faces  of  the  folk  at  the  settlement  are  catching,  and  that 
the  poor  Indians  are  more  than  half  spoiled  already.  Now,  ac- 

18* 


426     THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN"  MELICE. 

cording  to  my  judgment,  it  is  a  human  privilege  to  laugh.  Some 
say,  to  be  sure,  that  dogs  and  horses  laugh,  but  I  never  heard 
anything  that  amounted  to  more  than  a  snicker,  and  that  I  sup 
pose  they  caught  from  being  with  people." 

"  Sassacus,"  said  the  Knight,  "  this  is  no  longer  any  place  for 
thee.  The  white  men  are  at  this  moment  seeking  me,  and  will 
soon  be  also  on  thy  track,  and  show  no  mercy.  The  voices  of 
thy  tribe  are  shouting  thy  name  through  the  forest,  and  calling 
thee  home.  Here  and  now  we  part." 

"  Sassacus  is  troubled,"  replied  the  Sagamore,  "  about  his 
little  sister.  How  shall  he  answer  his  mother,  when  she  asks 
after  Neebin  ?" 

"  Neebin  is  in  no  danger,"  said  the  Knight ;  "  and  though  she 
were,  thy  remaining  could  do  no  good.  But  I  will  stay,  and  if 
artifice  can  avail — for  force  we  have  none — Neebin  shall  be  re 
stored  to  her  mother." 

"  My  brother  speaks  well,"  said  the  Sagamore,  having  thus 
secured  another  guardian  for  the  sister  whom  he  tenderly 
loved.  "  He  shall  stay,  but  Sassacus  will  return  to  the  river 
of  the  Pequots,  and  will  speak  a  loud  word  in  the  ears  of 
his  tribe,  and  they  shall  fill  their  quivers  with  arrows,  and 
sharpen  their  tomahawks,  and  many  will  come  back  with  him 
to  ask  for  Neebin.  Sassacus  will  go  alone,  and  will  leave  Tow- 
anquattick." 

"Leave  not  the  Paniese  behind,"  said  the  Knight.  "That 
were  only  to  expose  him  to  unnecessary  danger." 

But  the  chief  was  not  be  diverted  from  his  purpose.  To  every 
objection  he  replied :  "  A  great  chief  takes  not  back  the  word 
he  has  spoken.  Were  he  to  do  so,  what  would  become  of  the 
respect  of  his  people  ?" 

Yet,  notwithstanding  the  peremptory  tone  wherewith  he  had 
announced  his  determination,  very  soft  was  the  voice,  and  gentle 
the  manner  of  the  Sagamore,  as  he  addressed  his  follower : 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELTCE.  427, 

" Towanquattick,"  he  said,  "is  my  friend,  and  will  watch 
over  the  little  Pequot  bird  that  has  strayed  into  the  trap  of 
Owanux." 

"Towanquattick  will  watch,"  was  the  answer. 

"  Stay  to  teach  the  little  bird  to  fly  away,  or  until  I  return 
with  my  warriors.  Sassacus  goes  now  like  a  brook  just  starting 
from  the  ground ;  but  he  will  come  back  like  a  mighty  river 
when  angry  'Hpoon  pours  its  swollen  waters  into  the  salt  lake. 
Sassacus  hath  said." 

The  words  were  pronounced  with  a  dignity  and  gravity  that 
impressed  those  who  heard  them,  and  seemed  to  communicate 
some  of  the  daring  of  the  speaker ;  but  the  wiser  Knight  saw  the 
rashness  of  their  import,  and  determined  to  convince  the  Saga 
more  of  the  impolicy  of  the  course  proposed.  Taking  him  for 
that  purpose  on  one  side,  that  the  chief  might  speak  uninfluenced 
by  the  presence  of  his  follower,  he  represented  to  him  the  supe 
rior  strength  of  the  English,  and  the  impossibility  of  prevailing 
in  any  contest  until  a  complete  union  was  established  among  the 
tribes.^ 

"Behold!"  he  said:  "these  strangers  are  as  one  man,  and 
across  the  salt  lake  come  in  ships  from  time  to  time  fresh  forces. 
They  are  clad  in  armor  thy  arrows"  cannotjpierce,  and  wield  the 
thunder  and  the  lightning.  What  have  the  Pequots  to  oppose, 
but  naked  bodies  and  uncertain  arrows  ?" 

"  Owanux  are  few,  and  the  Indians  many,"  replied  the  Saga 
more.  "  Sassacus  will  bury  the  tomahawk  with  the  Narraghan- 
setts,  and  exchange  wampompeag  with  the  Taranteens,  and  they 
unite  against  the  strangers.  The  eyes  of  Sassacus  are  opened. 
There  can  be  no  peace  with  Owanux." 

"  Good!"  answered  the  Knight,  whose  apprehensions,  lest  plans 
which  he  cherished  might  be  defeated  by  the  precipitancy  of  the 
chief,  were  quieted  by  the  answer,  knowing  that  the  pacification 


428  THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

of  the  tribes  among  themselves  was  no  easy  matter,  and  would 
require  time.  "  Good !  the  eyes  of  the  Sagamore  are  sharp.  He 
is  wise  when  he  says  that  he  will  do  nothing  until  he  has  made 
friends  with  the  Narraghansetts  and  the  Taranteens.  Farewell, 
then,  and  be  that  the  compact  between  us." 

The  chief  now  turned  away,  and,  calling  Towanquattick,  the 
two  began  to  dig  a  hole  in  the  ground  with  pointed  sticks.  The 
white  men  looked  on  in  silence,  rightly  judging  it  to  be  some 
ceremony,  and  waiting  for  its  explanation.  After  a  cavity  of  a 
foot  in  depth,  and  about  the  same  diameter  was  dug,  the  Indians 
ceased  their  labor,  and  the  chief  answered  the  wondering  eyes  of 
his  friends. 

"  This  hole,"  he  said,  "  shall  tell  all  Indians  who  see  it  of  the 
captivity  of  Sassacus,  and  of  the  white  men,  his  deliverers." 

"  I  never  heard  before  of  a  hole  talking,"  said  Joy. 

"  It  will  talk,"  said  the  chief.  "  When  Sassacus  passes  by 
with  his  Paniese  he  will  tell  them  that  here  was  a  great 
parting,  and  Towanquattick  will  do  so  also,  and  they  shall  tell  it 
it  to  their  children,  and  so  the  tale  shall  run,  as  the  waters  of  a 
spring  follow  one  another  until  they  become  a  lake.  So  the  hole 
shall  speak,  long  after  I  have  departed  with  my  friends  for  the 
happy  hunting  grounds.  Hole!"  he  added,  addressing  it  as  if  it 
were  capable  of  understanding  what  he  said,  "  Sassacus  is  sad 
because  he  leaves  Neebin  behind,  but  say  thou  not  that.  Say  to 
all  who  behold  thee,  that  Soog-u-gest  and  Sassacus  were  friends  ; 
say  that  when  Owanux  put  Sassacus  into  a  box,  Soog-u-gest  and 
two  other  white  men,  and  Towanquattick,  let  him  out ;  say  that 
Soog-u-gest  and  the  other  white  men,  and  Towanquattick,  re 
main  to  watch  that  no  harm  shall  happen  to  Neebin,  whom 
Owanux  have  made  a  prisoner ;  and  say  that  Sassacus  has  gone 
after  his  warriors.  This  is  enough  for  thee,  O  hole,  to  remember. 
Forget  not  lest  thou  be  ashamed." 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  420 

While  the  Pequot  chief  was  speaking,  the  Paniese  paid  the 
strictest  attention,  evidently  striving  to  fasten  the  speech  in 
his  memory.  It  was  a  custom  common  among  the  natives, 
though  witnessed  by  the  Knight  and  Jov  for  the  first  time, 
whereby,  on  the  same  principle  that  more  civilized  communities 
erect  monuments  to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  events,  the  In 
dians  transmitted  to  posterity  matters  of  interest.  The  hole 
was  usually  dug  either  by  the  side  of  some  traveled  path  or 
on  the  spot  where  the  event  desired  to  be  commemorated 
took  place.  They  who  passed  by  naturally  inquired  into  its 
meaning,  and  the  facts,  known  to  few  at  first,  became  of  public 
notoriety. 

When  the  ceremony  was  completed,  the  Sagamore  of  the  Pe- 
quots,  as  if  unwilling  by  further  words  to  confuse  the  record, 
turned  away  in  silence,  and  took  his  solitary  way  through  the 
forest,  to  seek  the  seat  of  his  tribe. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

Deserted  at  his  utmost  need 
By  those  his  former  bounty  fed, 
On  the  bare  earth,  exposed,  he  lies. 

DRTDIN 

THE  colonists  were  exasperated  at  the  breaking  of  the  prison, 
Justly  concluding  that  it  was  not  entirely  the  work  of  Indians, 
notwithstanding  Bars,  faithful  to  the  impression  made  on  him  by 
the  gold  pieces,  stoutly  maintained  such  to  be  the  fact ;  and  that 
Cowlson  was  unable  to  contradict  him.  But  it  was,  after  all, 
only  suspicion— a  suspicion,  too,  that  pointed  at  various  persons. 
While  some,  with  a  lucky  sagacity,  ascribed  the  violence  done 
their  authority  to  the  Knight,  as  a  leader ;  there  were  those  who 
suspected  others,  of  whom  they  would  gladly  be  rid.  For,  how 
ever  desirous  the  great  bulk  of  the  colonists  were  that  only  they 
of  their  own  moral  habits  and  modes  of  thinking  should  be  con 
nected  with  their  enterprise,  it  was  impossible  completely  to 
exclude  the  obnoxious.  Some  would  creep  in,  and  the  colony 
resembled  a  draught  of  fishes  from  the  rivers  in  the  spring,  when 
the  schools  are  running ;  wherein,  although  the  great  majority 
are  shad  or  salmon,  occasional  intruders  of  other  scales  and 
stripes  are  found.  This  little  minority  were  watched  with  Argus 
eyes — every  transgression  being  visited  with  exemplary  punish 
ment — the  hand  of  Justice  being  made  heavier  by  two  consider- 


432      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

ations,  viz  :  difference  of  opinion,  and  a  desire  to  drive  away 
recusants,  who  were  regarded  as  vessels  doomed  to  destruction, 
and  whose  presence  was  held  to  be  dangerous.  That  was  no  era 
of  toleration,  but  of  fierce,  intractable  dogma.  The  breach  be 
twixt  Protestants  then  was  almost,  if  not  quite,  as  wide  as  between 
Protestants  and  Catholics  now.  Opinion,  bold,  enthusiastic 
opinion,  calling  itself  by  the  gracious  name  of  saving  faith, 
usurped  the  place  and  prerogative  of  reason ;  and,  as  from  a 
Papal  chair,  denounced,  as  damnable  error,  whatever  harmonized 
not  with  itself.  In  this  strife  of  ignorances,  the  amenities  and 
charities  of  life  were  lost  sight  of  and  forgotten ;  and,  if  not  quite 
trampled  out  of  existence,  it  was  owing  more  to  that  celestial 
spark  which,  with  a  dimmer  or  a  brighter  light,  guides  every 
man  who  comes  into  the  world  than  to  the  lessons  of  the  teachers. 
Men  were  dismissed  from  the  colony,  or  otherwise  punished,  on 
bare  suspicion  of  wrong-doing  or  wrong-thinking.  Nor  is  it  un 
likely  that  hostility  in  high  places  may  have  availed  itself  of  this 
laxity  of  law  to  gratify  private  malignity. 

Hence,  let  it  not  be  wondered  at,  that,  in  consequence  of  the 
prison  breach,  several  innocent  persons  were  arrested,  whose 
modes  of  life  or  principles  of  faith  came  not  up  to  the  orthodox 
standard.  If  their  apprehension  answered  no  other  purpose,  it, 
at  least,  served  to  weaken  the  desire  of  the  suspected  persons  to 
remain  where  they  were  not  wanted. 

Hitherto  the  magistrates  had  been  foiled,  but  failure  only  in 
creased  their  vigilance  and  activity.  Additional  men  were  des 
patched  to  scour  the  woods ;  word  was  sent  to  Salem  and  to 
Plymouth,  and  co-operation  to  capture  the  fugitives  asked  for  ;  re 
wards  were  offered  for  their  seizure  ;  and,  in  fine,  no  means  omitted 
which  indomitable  will  and  ingenuity  could  devise.  So  hot,  at 
length,  became  the  chase,  that,  familiar  as  they  were  with  the 
woods,  Sir  Christopher  and  his  companions  found  it  difficult  to 
avoid  capture.  They  had  it,  indeed,  in  their  power  to  place  them- 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.  433 

selves  in  comparative  safety,  either  by  following  the  steps  of  the 
Pequot  chief,  or  seeking  the  Taranteens — for  to  the  west  they  dared 
not  go,  for  fear  of  the  tribes  in  that  direction,  who  were  at  feud  with 
those  on  the  Atlantic  border — but  various  considerations  inter 
fered  to  prevent.  With  neither  Sir  Christopher  nor  the  Indian 
was  mere  personal  safety  a  ruling  motive.  The  former  had  not 
abandoned  all  hope  of  changing  the  strange  resolution  of  Sister 
Celestina,  with  whom  he  determined,  on  accomplishing  her  release, 
to  proceed  with  Neebin  to  the  country  of  the  Pequots — in  this 
way  only  transferring  their  labors  to  another  place — and  with 
the  latter,  the  charge  wherewith  he  was  entrusted  was  too  sacred 
for  any  cause  to  be  neglected.  Flying  from  their  posts,  even 
though  bands  of  enemies  were  after  them,  was  therefore  not  to  be 
thought  of.  As  for  Philip,  his  wild,  reckless  nature  took  pleasure 
in  their  adventurous  mode  of  life ;  satisfied,  besides,  that  were 
he  even  made  prisoner,  no  serious  punishment  could  befall  him, 
unless  his  participation  in  the  prison-breach  became  known, 
which,  he  confided  too  much  in  the  fidelity  of  his  associates  to 
believe  was  possible.  Seldom  daring,  therefore,  to  discharge 
their  fire-locks,  but  depending  principally  on  the  arrows  of  the 
Indian,  and  snares  they  set  for  subsistence,  occasionally  aided  by 
the  friendly  natives  with  whom  the  Knight  was  a  favorite,  and 
constantly  changing  their  places,  the  three  continued  to  elude 
the  search,  and  the  baffled  soldiers  were  obliged  to  return,  digest 
ing  their  disappointment  as  they  might,  and  asserting  that  those 
whom  they  sought  had  left  the  neighborhood.  To  make  assur 
ance  sure  and  to  stimulate  the  Indians  to  exertions,  which  the 
magistrates  were  certain  had  never  been  made,  higher  rewards 
were  offered  for  the  capture  of  Sir  Christopher  in  particular, 
which,  it  was  supposed,  the  cupidity  of  the  natives  would  be  un 
able  to  resist. 

Among  the  Indians  trusted  by  Sir  Christopher,  none  had  con 
trived  to  secure  a  greater  share  of  his  confidence  than  Quecheco, 


434  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

the  frequent  and  favored  companion  of  his  hunts.  The  skill  of 
the  Indian  in  hunting  had,  at  first,  recommended  him  to  the 
Knight,  and  afterwards,  the  interest  of  the  latter  in  his  protege 
was  increased  by  the  attention  with  which  Quecheco  listened  to 
instruction  and  by  the  intelligence  of  his  questions.  Hitherto 
he  had  always  been  found  faithful,  in  consequence  whereof  the 
haunts  of  the  outlyers  were  not  concealed  from  him,  and  he  was 
employed  to  procure  information  from  the  English  settlements, 
and  depended  on,  generally,  as  a  confederate.  Quecheco  was 
not  without  affection  ;  in  proof  whereof,  he  had  withstood  the 
bribe  at  first  offered  for  the  capture  of  Sir  Christopher,  but  his 
feeble  virtue  finally  succumbed.  There  was  one  temptation 
which  he  was  unable  to  withstand.  He  had  frequently  been  a 
witness  of  the  effectiveness  of  the  gun  in  the  hands  of  the  Knight, 
and,  with  a  hunter's  love,  conceived  a  longing  to  possess  one. 
This  was  no  easy  matter  to  be  accomplished,  furnishing  guns  to 
Indians  being  strictly  prohibited,  and  such  weapons  taken  away 
whenever  found  in  their  possession.  Quecheco  now  thought  he 
saw  an  opportunity  of  gratifying  a  desire  that  had  become  a 
mania,  and  determined  that  a  gun  should  be  the  price  of  his 
friend's  liberty. 

With  this  view,  at  one  of  his  visits  to  Plymouth,  or  Accomac, 
he  sought  Governor  Bradford,  with  whom  he  was  acquainted, 
and  proposed  to  deliver  the  Knight  into  his  hands,  in  considera 
tion  of  the  coveted  gun  and  a  certain  quantity  of  powder  and 
ball.  Much  as  was  desired  the  capture  of  Sir  Christopher,  Brad 
ford  hesitated,  but  finally  promised  the  bribe,  stipulating  for  the 
life  of  the  Knight,  considering  that  the  rule  might  bear  infringe 
ment  in  a  single  instance,  for  the  sake  of  the  object  to  be  at 
tained;  and  from  that  moment  Quecheco  begun  his  work  of 
treachery. 

In  consequence  of  the  activity  of  the  search,  the  fugitives  had 
been  obliged  not  only  often  to  change  their  hiding-place,  but 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.  435 

sometimes  to  remove  to  a  considerable  distance  from  Boston. 
One  of  their  favorite  resorts  was  near  Plymouth,  both  because 
they  were  less  likely  to  be  suspected  to  lurk  in  a  vicinity  where 
the  Knight  had  no  acquaintances,  and  also  on  account  of  a 
greater  abundance  of  game.  Here  the  two  white  men  often 
remained  without  Towanquattick,  who,  less  liable  to  discov 
ery,  hovered  around  the  spot  where  was  the  sister  of  his  Saga 
more. 

Such  being  the  state  of  things,  Quecheco  selected  the  neigh 
borhood  of  Plymouth  (on  account  of  the  absence  of  Towanquat 
tick,  betwixt  whom  and  himself  a  feeling  of  mutual  dislike 
existed,  caused  in  his  jealous  mind  by  the  favor  which  the  Knight 
had  lately  shown  the  Pequot,  and  which  he  esteemed  a  derogation 
of  his  rights)  as  the  theatre  of  his  plot,  and  here  we  find  Sir 
Christopher  at  this  moment. 

"  Our  larder  is  exhausted,  Philip,"  said  the  Knight  one  morn 
ing,  "  and  must  be  replenished.  Shall  we  try  our  fortune 
together  ?" 

"  I  am  always  ready,"  answered  Philip.  "  It  is  two  days  since 
I  stretched  my  legs,  and,  by  my  halidome,  I  shall  forget  how  to 
use  them,  without  more  practice." 

"Methinks,"  replied  the  Knight,  smiling,  "it  is  less  than  a 
week  since  I  saw  legs  much  resembling  thine  moving  with  mar 
vellous  celerity." 

"  When  this  copper-hide  here  showed  us  Venn's  band,  within 
a  hundred  yards  of  the  old  wigwam,  right  under  Winthrop's 
nose,  in  the  swamp.  Aye,  it  was  high  time  to  be  moving  ;  but  it 
was  unkind  of  Venn  to  burn  our  quarters,  seeing  that  I  had  been 
a  sergeant  in  his  company." 

"  Quecheco,  my  line  fellow,"  said  Sir  Christopher,  "  thou 
didst  us  a  service  on  that  day  not  to  be  forgotten,  and  now  we 
must  look  to  thee  for  another.  Where  shall  we  hunt  ?" 

"  Let  Soog-u-gest  and  Quecheco  go  a  little  towards  Accomack, 


436  THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

where  I  saw  yesterday  some  deer,  and  the  sanop  toward  the  set 
ting  sun,"  answered  the  Indian. 

"  Go  thou  with  Philip,  and  I  will  take  my  chance  alone," 
said  the  Knight. 

"  The  chief  must  not  go  alone,"  said  the  Indian.  "  Quecheco 
will  go  to  carry  the  deer  which  Soog-u-gest  will  shoot." 

"  A  sensible  Indian,"  said  Philip.  "  Take  him  with  you,  Sir 
Christopher.  For  my  part,  I  do  not  want  his  copper  skin 
gliding  like  a  snake  among  the  bushes ;  and,  Sir  Christopher, 
look  sharp,  and  see  if  I  bring  not  back  as  much  game  as  you  and 
your  friend." 

"I  accept  the  challenge,"  said  the  Knight,  good-humoredly, 
"  and  will  take  him,  since  you  prefer  to  go  alone." 

"  I  will  none  of  him.  He  is  thy  valley-doo-doo — a  murrain  on 
mounseer  for  his  hard  words ;  and  why  a  waiting-man  should  be 
called  a  valley,  more  than  a  mountain,  or  a  river,  doth  pass  my 
understanding." 

"  An  interesting  mystery.  Yet  is  its  solution  unnecessary  at 
the  present.  Get  thy  bow  and  quiver,  Quecheco,  and  we  will 
see  by  evening  how  Philip's  boastings  will  turn  out." 

"  And,  hark  ye,  red-skin,"  cried  the  soldier,  "  take  care  that 
thou  bring  back  Soog-u-gest,  as  thou  callest  Sir  Christopher,  safe, 
and  with  a  good  appetite  to  eat  my  game." 

In  spite  of  his  habitual  self-possession,  the  Indian  started.  A 
guilty  conscience  began  already  to  affright  him,  and  for  an  instant 
he  fancied  his  purpose  detected. 

"  What  ails  thee  ?"  asked  the  Knight,  regarding  him  with  a 
quick,  keen  glance. 

"  Quecheco  hurt  his  foot,"  answered  the  Indian,  with  a  limp, 
and  bending  down  to  hide  his  face  from  the  sharp  eyes. 

"  Poor  fellow,  then,  remain  behind,  and  we  will  hunt  for  thee, 
who  hast  done  so  often  for  us." 

"  Quah !"  exclaimed  the  Indian,  with  a  gesture  of  disdain.    "  It 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.  437 

is  nothing.  See,  Quecheco  can  run  like  a  deer."  And  with 
that  he  sprung  round  with  great  agility,  as  if  to  make  good  hia 
words. 

"  Enough,"  said  the  Knight ;  "  reserve  thy  breath  until  it  is 
wanted." 

The  course  taken  by  the  two  was  toward  the  south,  as  recom 
mended  by  the  savage,  in  order  to  find  the  herd  which  he  said  he 
had  seen  the  day  before. 

"  Why,  then,  brought  you  back  no  venison  ?"  asked  the 
Knight. 

"  The  deer  was  quicker  than  the  arrow  of  Quecheco,"  re 
turned  the  Indian  ;  "  but  he  will  not  escape,"  he  added,  looking 
with  admiring  eyes  at  Sir  Christopher's  gun,  "  the  round  stone 
which  Soog-u-gest  will  throw  at  him." 

"  I  have  often  seen  thee,"  said  the  Knight,  "  gaze  at  my  piece 
with  such  eyes  as  the  sight  of  thy  squaw,  after  long  absence, 
might  kindle  up.  Were  it  not  sure  to  be  thy  ruin,  I  could  find  it 
in  my  heart  to  give  it  thee." 

The  eyes  of  Quecheco  flashed.  "  Give  me  the  stick,"  he  cried, 
"that  makes  a  loud  noise,  and  Quecheco  will  do  a  great  thing." 

'*  I  have  done  wrong,"  thought  the  Knight,  "  in  raising  his 
expectations.  Nay,  Quecheco,"  he  said,  "it  would  be  taken 
away  from  thee  by  the  white  men,  and  who  would  sell  thee 
powder  and  ball  ?" 

"  Nin-e-yi-u  wa-wee,"  (it  is  well,)  said  the  Indian.  "  Soog-u- 
gest  flies  so  high  that  he  sees  a  great  way,  and  Quecheco  spoke 
like  a  pappoose.  What  has  he  to  do  with  guns  ?" 

The  gift  of  the  gun  would  have  diverted  the  savage  from  his 
purpose,  by  awakening  the  affection  which  covetousness  had  put 
to  sleep,  and  probably  altered  the  fate  of  Sir  Christopher  and 
himself ;  but  the  answer  of  the  Knight  dispelled  the  hope  that 
for  a  single  instant  warmed  the  heart  of  Quecheco  with  better 
feeling,  and  he  persisted  in  his  original  design. 


488  THE   KNIGHT   OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

They  had  walked  several  miles  without  seeing  any  game  of 
importance,  or  such  as  was  thought  worthy  of  other  attention 
than  the  arrows  of  the  Indian,  before  they  reached  the  spot  indi 
cated  by  him  as  where  he  had  marked  the  deer  the  day  previous. 
It  was  a  falsehood  invented  by  Quecheco,  and  great  was  his 
astonishment,  on  approaching,  to  behold  a  herd  of  a  dozen  of 
these  timid  creatures. 

frC  It  was  a  sort  of  lawn,  of  six  or  seven  acres  in  extent,  with  a 
few  trees  scattered  over  it,  where  they  were  feeding.  The  shape 
of  the  ground  was  an  irregular  oblong,  in  some  places  not  more 
than  a  hundred  yards  across,  and  in  others  of  double  the  dis 
tance,  being  like  a  basin,  at  a  depression  of  twenty  or  thirty  feet 
below  where  the  Knight  stood,  concealed  by  trees  and  bushes. 
At  the  bottom  flowed  a  small,  rapid  stream,  perhaps  three  rods 
wide,  interposing  itself  betwixt  him  and  the  herd.  Sir  Christo 
pher  had  visited  the  locality  before,  and  was  familiar  with  its 
features ;  and  expecting  game,  from  the  story  of  Quecheco,  had 
taken  care  to  approach  with  the  wind  in  his  face,  to  avoid  the 
scent  of  his  person  being  carried  to  the  delicate  nostrils  of  the 
animals  while  he  stepped  noiselessly  along.  The  Indian,  in 
order  the  better  to  carry  out  his  meditated  deceit,  had  been  imi 
tating  the  Knight's  conduct,  and  on  the  discovery  of  the  deer,  his 
hunter's  instinct  induced  him  to  continue  what  his  hypocrisy  had 
begun.  Selecting  the  finest  buck  from  the  herd,  Sir  Christopher 
levelled  his  piece  and  fired.  A  single  instant  stood,  with  erected 
heads,  the  beautiful  creatures,  as  if  stupefied  with  astonishment, 
and  then  all  but  one  vanished  in  the  wood — all  but  the  stricken 
buck,  who  made  one  bound,  and  fell  to  the  earth.  The  prodi 
gious  leap  testified  to  the  extremity  of  his  terror  and  his  hurt ; 
and  vain  struggles  to  rise  from  his  knees,  to  its  fatal  char 
acter.  With  eyes  fixed  upon  the  struggling  deer,  the  Knight 
reloaded  his  gun,  and  then  bounded  down  the  declivity  after 
him. 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.      489 

Arrived  at  the  margin  of  the  stream,  he  discovered  a  canoe 
drawn  up  a  little  way  on  the  bank,  approaching  which,  to  push 
it  into  the  water,  he  suddenly  found  himself  surrounded  by  a 
number  of  Indians.  They  were  the  confederates  of  Quecheco, 
who  had  been  for  some  time  lying  in  wait  in  the  thick  bushes. 
Simultaneously  rushing  forward,  they  attempted  to  seize  him ; 
but  this  was  no  easy  matter.  A  resolute,  athletic  man,  with 
body  and  sinews  hardened  by  his  hunter's  life,  and  accustomed 
to  exercise  command  over  the  natives,  Sir  Christopher  shook 
roughly  off  the  hands  laid  on  him,  and  shouting,  "  ha,  villains  ! 
— death  to  traitors !"  presented  his  gun,  before  the  terror  of 
whose  fatal  lightning  his  assailants  recoiled.  Keeping  the  muz 
zle  of  the  piece  directed  at  them,  and  threatening  with  it  any  one 
who  made  a  motion  to  draw  near,  the  Knight  succeeded  in  get 
ting  the  canoe  afloat,  when,  jumping  "in,  he  pushed  from  the 
shore.  With  a  pole  found  in  the  canoe,  he  strove  to  urge  it 
across  the  stream ;  but,  embarrassed  with  watching  his  enemies, 
and  swept  down  by  the  current,  the  effort  was  attended  with 
great  difficulty.  Meanwhile,  the  savages,  who  had  hitherto 
forborne  any  act  that  might  endanger  life,  bearing  in  mind 
their  instructions,  became  apprehensive  of  losing  him,  and 
excited  by  his  resistance,  began  to  shoot  arrows  at  him.  One 
of  the  missiles  took  effect  in  the  right  arm  of  the  Knight, 
just  above  the  elbow,  and  the  pole  dropped  from  his  hand. 
At  the  same  instant  the  canoe  struck  against  a  submerged 
rock  and  upset.  Taking  advantage  of  the  accident,  the  In 
dians  sprung  into  the  water,  and  succeeded  in  mastering  his 
person. 

"  Quecheco,"  said  the  Knight,  reproachfully,  as  he  stood  upon 
the  bank,  "  is  it  thou,  and  thou,  too,  Negabamat,  who  treat  me  as 
an  enemy  ?  Why  this  violence  1" 

"Soog-u-gest  is  wanted  among  his  own  people,"  said  Que 
checo,  who  had  possessed  himself  of  the  much  coveted  gun 


440      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

which  had  fallen  into  the  water.  "Indians  will  not  hurt 
him." 

"  Quecheco,  thou  art  a  villain,"  said  the  Knight ;  "  but  if  not 
an  incarnate  demon,  outrage  me  not  further  than  is  necessary  for 
thy  base  purpose." 

Thus  spoke  Sir  Christopher,  seeing  that  preparations  were 
made  to  confine  his  arms  with  withes.  The  Indians  said  some 
thing  among  themselves,  and  at  length  Quecheco  replied  : 

"  Soog-u-gest  always  speaks  the  truth.  Let  him  promise  not 
to  run  away,  and  his  arms  shall  be  free." 

"  I  promise,"  said  the  Knight,  who,  in  spite  of  his  treatment, 
could  not  but  feel  pleased  at  this  evidence  of  the  confidence  in 
his  truth  with  which  he  had  inspired  the  natives.  "  Take  the 
powder  horn  and  bullets,"  he  added,  detaching  them  from  his 
person.  "  I  will  attend  you." 

At  a  sign  from  Quecheco  the  Indians  released  Sir  Christopher, 
nor  seemed  after  that  to  trouble  themselves  much  with  watching 
him. 

An  Indian,  who  had  crossed  the  stream,  now  returned  bearing 
the  slain  buck  on  his  back,  and  threw  it  down  on  the  grass,  and 
his  companions  with  pleased  faces  gathered  around  it.  Sir  Chris 
topher,  notwithstanding  the  unpleasantness  of  his  situation,  could 
not  avoid  smiling. 

"  Nature's  children !"  he  said  to  himself.  "  It  would  have 
pained  me  had  I  unfortunately  killed  one  of  them.  Blessed  Jesu, 
I  thank  thee  for  saving  me  from  bloodshedding." 

He  threw  himself  on  the  ground,  and  watched  their  proceedings 
in  cooking  the  venison  with  some  interest,  for  he  was  hungry, 
and,  when  it  was  ready,  partook  of  it  with  them  as  though  they 
had  been  a  party  of  friendly  hunters,  nor  would  any  one  have 
suspected  that  he  was  a  prisoner.  Having  thus  placed  him 
self  on  terms  as  little  disagreeable  as  possible  with  his  captors, 
Sir  Christopher  endeavored,  while  they  were  under  the  influence 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.e  44:1 

of  the  welcome  dinner,  to  dissuade  them  from  their  purpose  in 
regard  to  himself,  but  on  this  point  he  found  remonstrance  use 
less.  The  Indians  were  not  inclined  to  talk  about  it,  and  either 
preserved  a  total  silence,  or  simply  said  that  the  white  chief 
at  Accomack  had  sent  them.  When  they  had  eaten  up  the 
buck,  they  started  with  the  Knight  in  the  direction  of  Ply 
mouth. 


19 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

Well  skilled  he  was  in  regulating  laws, 
So  as  by  law  he  could  defend  the  cause 
Of  poor  distressed,plaintiff,  when  he  brought 
His  case  before  him  and  for  help  besought. 
*.  Above  all  other  men  he  loved  those 
Who  gospel  truths  most.faithfully  unclose, 
Who  were>rith  grace  and  learning  fully  fraught 

MORTON'S  NEW  ENGLAND'S  MEMORIAL. 

THE  ancient  town  of  Plymouth  has  probably  about  as  much 
resemblance  to  what  it  was  two  hundred  years  ago,  as  an  ante 
diluvian  at  a  like  age  had  to  his  boyhood.  Were  Governor  Brad 
ford,  whose  worth  is  more  quaintly  than  poetically  delineated  in 
the  above  lines,  Captain  Miles  Standish,  Master  Thomas  Prince, 
or  any  other  worthies  of  those  days  of  peaked  hats  and  falling 
bands  to  revisit  the  scenes  of  their  pilgrim  labors,  I  fancy  that 
they  would  find  it  difficult  at  first  to  recognize  them.  By  the 
eternal  features,  only,  of  nature,  the  sparkling  waters  of  the  bay, 
the  waving  line  of  its  shore,  and  by  the  eminences  not  wholly 
levelled,  would  the  site  be  identified,  and  the  likeness  traced. 
Only  with  memory,  assisted  by.  these  marks,  might  they  be  able, 
as  the  moonbeams  fell  upon  their  pale  faces,  and  they  stroked 
their  solemn  beards,  to  exclaim — here  stood  our  Plymouth. 

As  it  presented  itself  that  day  to  the  eyes  of  Sir  Christopher 
Gardiner,  surrounded  by  his  Indian  escort,  it  seemed  an  incon 
siderable  village  lying  on  the  slope  of  a  hill,  dropping  towards 


444  THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

the  sea.  A  broad  street,  some  eight  hundred  yards  long,  led 
down  the  hill,  and  was  crossed  nearly  in  the  middle  by  another, 
the  ends  of  which  were  protected  by  gates  made  of  solid  planks — 
the  fourth  end,  viz :  that  on  the  bay,  being  without  any  barricade. 
The  houses  were  rude  and  small,  constructed  of  hewn  planks, 
and  stood  in  areas,  around  which  were  thrown  fences  made  also 
of  plank,  serving  as  very  effectual  stockades  against  any  sudden 
attack,  and  bidding  defiance  to  the  simple  enginery  of  the  na 
tives.  Near  the  centre  was  the  Governor's  house  (built  in  like 
manner),  and  in  front  of  it,  at  the  intersection  of  the  streets,  a 
square  block,  answering  the  purposes  of  a  fort,  and  mounted  with 
four  patereros,  or  small  cannon,  commanded  the  streets  and  four 
points  of  entrance.  On  the  top  of  the  hill,  a  large  square  edi 
fice  with  a  flat  roof,  whereupon  were  placed  six  cannons,  shoot 
ing  balls  of  four  or  five  pounds,  dominated  the  surrounding 
country.  The  upper  part  of  this  building  served  for  a  fort,  and 
the  lower  for  public  worship  and  meetings  generally.  On  the 
whole,  as  against  arrows  and  tomahawks,  it  was  a  very  pretty 
fortified  place,  and  would  not  have  been  found  fault  with  by 
Vauban  himself,  could  he  have  had  the  good  fortune  to  be 
hold  it. 

The  Knight  passed  through  one  of  the  open  gates,  which  were 
closed  only  at  night,  and  proceeded  straight  to  the  residence  of 
the  Governor.  ,  Here  he  was  delivered  by  the  Indians  to  Brad 
ford,  who  chid  them  for  wounding  Sir  Christopher.  They  ex 
cused  themselves  on  the  ground  of  his  resistance,  declaring  that 
the  wound  was  trivial,  and  had  merely  numbed  his  arm  for  a  mo 
ment.  (Such,  indeed,  proved  to  be  a  fact,  when,  shortly  after 
wards,  the  broken  piece  of  the  arrow  was  cut  out.)  The 
Indians  were  dismissed  with  the  promised  presents,  Quecheco 
being  permitted  to  retain  the  coveted  gun  of  the  Knight  as 
part  of  his  reward.  A  moment's  digression  to  record  the 
fate  of  the  savage,  and  we  will  return  to  Sir  Christopher. 


THE   KNIGHT   OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  445 

Proud  was  the  Indian  of  his  new  acquisition,  with  its  gold  and 
silver  ornaments,  so  far  surpassing  in  beauty  all  other  pieces  he 
had  seen,  and  affectionately  he  caressed  it,  calling  it  his  week-su- 
buck  otaw,  (sweetheart,)  and  often  repeating,  gee-wawee-fee-yi-ee, 
i.  e.,  you  are  welcome.  He  was  alone  in  the  forest,  the  others 
having  departed  in  different  directions,  and  was  on  his  way  to 
Boston,  where  he  expected  to  get  more  of  the  powder  and  ball  for 
which  he  had  covenanted.  It  was  the  day  after  his  treachery, 
and  he  had  nearly  accomplished  his  journey,  only  three  or  four 
miles  remaining  between  him  and  his  place  of  destination,  when 
he  heard  a  rustling  in  the  bushes,  and  saw  Towanquattick  ad 
vancing.  He  had  first  been  seen  by  the  Pequot,  who,  recogniz 
ing  him,  came  unsuspiciously  forward.  Instantly  saw  Quecheco 
the  consequences  of  being  found  by  Towanquattick  in  possession 
of  the  gun,  with  which  the  latter  was  familiar  as  the  property  of 
Sir  Christopher,  and  this  thought,  combining  with  his  hatred, 
made  him  suddenly  raise  the  weapon  and  fire  at  the  approaching 
Pequot.  The  forest  rang  with  the  report,  and  as  Quecheco,  un 
practised  in  the  use  of  fire-arms,  having  discharged  the  piece 
but  a  few  times,  recovered  himself,  he  beheld  Towanquattick 
fitting  an  arrow  to  his  bow.  Seizing  the  tomahawk  out  of  his 
belt,  Quecheco  hurled  it  at  the  Pequot  as  the  arrow  whizzed  from 
the  string,  but  both  weapons  failed  of  their  mark.  Drawing  his 
own  tomahawk,  the  Pequot  in  turn  threw  it  at  his  foe,  who  es 
caped  by  a  sudden  movement  of  the  body. 

The  two  Indians  now  stood  regarding  one  another  with  looks 
of  rage,  and  took  the  knives  off  their  necks.  Neither  spoke  a 
word.  Each  understood  the  other,  and  with  flashing  eyes 
watched  to  take  an  advantage.  They  were  both  powerful  men, 
well  matched  in  size  and  age,  and  equally  armed,  so  that  upon 
fortune  and  skill,  more  than  upon  bru  te  strength,  th.e  result  was 
likely  to  depend. 

Presently,  each  grasping  the  knife  in  his  right  hand,  and  bend- 


446  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

ing  over,  ready  for  a  spring,  they  began,  with  eyes  fixed  on  one 
another,  to  move  round  and  round,  watching  for  a  favorable  op 
portunity  to  make  the  fatal  dart.  Thus,  occasionally  increasing 
the  rapidity  of  their  movements,  then  relaxing  their  swiftness 
again,  they  moved  in  circles  several  times,  but  without  drawing 
within  striking  distance.  The  thought  occurred  to  both  of 
throwing  the  knife,  which,  if  skilfully  done,  might  terminate  the 
contest,  but  the  consideration  that  if  the  stroke  failed,  the  unsuc 
cessful  combatant  would  be  left  at  the  mercy  of  the  other,  deterred 
from  the  hazardous  experiment.  After  various  feints  and  strat 
agems  foiled,  by  mutual  cunning  the  two  foes  stopped,  as  if  by 
agreement,  to  devise  more  effectual  schemes  of  destruction.  In 
this  truce  of  a  moment,  the  eyes  of  Quecheco  fell  upon  a  toma 
hawk  lying  near  the  feet  of  his  opponent,  and  unobserved  by  him. 
His  efforts  were  now  directed  to  getting  possession  of  the  weap 
on,  and  he  re-commenced  the  system  of  attack  he  had  practised. 
It  was  no  difficult  thing,  by  a  series  of  retreats  and  advances, 
and  constant  changes  of  position,  to  entice  the  Pequot,  ignorant 
of  the  other's  design,  from  the  place  whereon  he  stood,  and  pres 
ently  the  foot  of  Quecheco  touched  the  missile.  The  movement 
of  his  foe's  limbs  in  searching  for  the  tomahawk  had  caught  the 
notice  of  Towanquattick,  and  before  it  was  touched  by  Queche- 
co's  foot  he  had  seen  it.  At  the  sight,  throwing  aside  the  cau 
tion  he  had  practised,  the  Pequot  sprung  straight  at  his  enemy, 
and,  without  seeking  to  protect  himself,  plunged  his  knife  into 
the  breast  of  Quecheco.  The  force  of  the  blow  threw  the  stoop 
ing  savage  upon  his  back,  and  before  he  could  rise,  the  tomahawk, 
caught  from  the  ground  by  the  hand  of  the  Pequot,  crashed  into 
the  brain  of  the  dying  traitor.  Drawing  out,  then,  the  knife, 
the  Pequot,  with  a  rapid  turn  that  indicated  a  practised  hand, 
passed  it  round  the  head  of  his  foe,  and  tearing  off  the  bloody 
trophy,  hung  it  at  his  girdle.  A  little  while  the  Pequot  stood 
contemplating  the  body,  and  as  his  eyes  wandered  from  the  corpse 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.  447 

to  the  gun,  which  lay  on  the  ground,  and  back  again  to  the  corpse, 
a  ferocious  gleam  of  gratified  revenge,  like  the  lurid  gleam  of 
fires  at  night,  swept  over  his  swarthy  face.  Picking  up,  then, 
the  gun,  the  knives  and  tomahawks,  and  stripping  the  corpse  of 
the  articles  containing  the  powder  and  bullets,  the  Indian  started 
in  search  of  Joy. 

Meanwhile,  the  Knight  had  been  entertained  with  all  human 
ity  and  honor  by  the  Governor  of  Plymouth ;  nor  was  other 
treatment  to  be  expected  from  the  learned  and  accomplished 
Bradford.  In  appearance  he  was  somewhat  less  than  fifty  years 
of  age,  with  a  mild  and  thoughtful  expression  of  countenance, 
which  revealed  to  the  close  observer  as  much  of  the  meditative 
student  as  of  the  man  of  action.  A  thorough  receiver  and  ad 
mirer  of  the  principles  of  the  sect  to  which  he  belonged,  it  was 
the  business  of  his  life  to  illustrate  them  by  his  learning,  and  en 
force  them  by  his  example. 

That  strange  charm  of  manner  for  which  the  Knight  of  the 
Golden  Melice  was  so  distinguished,  his  persuasive  voice  and  in 
tellectual  cultivation,  failed  not  to  exert  their  wonted  fascination 
over  one  so  likely  to  be  influenced  by  exactly  such  qualities  and 
acquirements  as  Bradford,  and,  indeed,  nowhere  were  they  calcu 
lated  to  exercise  so  great  a  power  as  in  a  country  where  they 
were  uncommon. 

The  two  gentlemen  had  met  before,  but  the  interview  had 
never  ripened  into  acquaintance ;  and  now,  that  fortune  had 
thrown  them  together  in  relations  which  might  seem  none  of  the 
most  agreeable,  but  which  the  kindness  of  the  one  and  the  polish 
of  the  other  hid  in  flowers,  it  appeared  as  if  they  were  welcome 
to  both. 

"  We  have  become  acquainted  under  singular  circumstances, 
Sir  Christopher,"  said  Bradford,  a  day  or  two  after  the  Knight 
came  to  Plymouth  ;  "  and,  although  wishing  they  were  somewhat 
different,  I  can  scarcely  regret  the  providence  which  has  brought 


448  THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN' MELICE. 

so  every  way  accomplished  a  gentleman  to  honor  my  roof. "  Your 
mind,  wonderfully  imbued  with  the  gentler  humanities,  sweetly 
accords  with  mine  own,  and  when  you  are  gone  I  shall  look  back 
with  refreshment  and  a  sad  longing  to  our  thoughtful  conferences. 
Never  have  the  strains  of  the  divine  harper  of  Israel,  whether 
exulting  in  the  favor  of  Jehovah  or  sorrowing  for  sin,  so  affected 
my  spirit  as  when  read  by  you  in  the  original  speech  of  Eden." 

"  For  your  kind  expressions,  right  worshipful  sir,"  answered 
the  Knight,  "  and  the  delicate  attentions  which  make  my  impris 
onment  sweet,  receive  my  unforgetting  gratitude.  I,  too,  what 
ever  unjust  suspicion  may  inflict,  will  revert  to  these  our  religious 
and  philosophic  hours,  wherein  we  discussed  questions  nobler 
than  those  which,  in  the  shades  of  Tusculum,  engaged  the  minds 
of  the  great  Roman  orator  and  of  his  friends,  with  a  satisfac 
tion  which  shall  not  run  out  with  the  sands  in  the  hour-glass  of 
time." 

"  If  outraged,  by  I  scarcely  know  what  wild  reports,  for  the 
moment,"  replied  Bradford,  "  I  entreat  you  to  forgive  it,  and  to 
believe  me  that  I  believe  them  not.  Remember  that  David  fled 
before  his  enemies,  yet  the  Lord  delivered  him  and  brought  him 
to  great  honor." 

"  I  am  not  worthy  to  be  joined  in  thought  with  the  Shepherd 
King,  who,  to  the  ringing  strings  of  the  harp,  warbled  inspiration," 
said  the  Knight.  "  Yet,  noble  sir,  do  I  accept  your  words  of  cheer, 
and  they  shall  be  a  buoy  to  bear  me  up  as  I  cross  this  tempest 
uous  Jordan.  When  is  it  your  purpose  that  I  should  depart  ? 
Accompany  you  me,  or  go  I  melancholy,  alone  1" 

"  As  for  the  first  question,  you  shall  remain  at  your  pleasure, 
or  until  Governor  Winthrop  requires  your  presence  ;  as  for  the 
latter,  though  unable  to  leave  home  at  present,  I  hope  shortly  to 
be  at  leisure.  Thus  generally  can  I  answer,  but  present  or  ab 
sent,  my  best  wishes  shall  attend  you." 

The  above  conversation  is  sufficient  to  give  an  idea  of  the  rela- 


THE   KNIGHT   OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  449 

tion  of  the  Governor  and  Knight  to  one  another,  and  of  the  feel 
ings  of  both.  In  truth,  the  enjoyment  of  Sir  Christopher  was 
almost  as  great  as  Bradford's,  and  neither  manifested  any  desire 
to  shorten  their  intercourse.  Every  leisure  moment  devoted  the 
Plymouth  Governor  to  his  agreeable  companion — their  conversa 
tions  turning  more  on  questions  of  literature  than  on  political 
matters.  These  latter,  the  Knight  avoided,  seeking  thereby  to 
impress  the  other  with  the  opinion,  that  he  felt  but  little  interest 
in  them. 

In  this  manner  passed  the  time,  until  one  morning  the  Gover 
nor  announced  that  messengers  had  arrived  from  Winthrop,  com 
missioned  to  wait  on  Sir  Christopher  to  his  presence. 

"I  grieve,"  said  Bradford,  "that  I  cannot  go  with  you.  Mat 
ters  of  instant  importance  demand  my  presence  here,  but  so  far 
as  friendly  words  in  a  letter  may  avail  they  shall  not  be  want 
ing.  May  it  please  you  to  be  ready  at  your  convenience,  and 
meanwhile  I  will  prepare  my  epistle." 

At  the  time  appointed,  four  armed  men  appeared  at  the  Gov 
ernor's  house  to  receive  the  prisoner.  To  them  Sir  Christopher 
was  delivered  by  Bradford,  who,  at  the  same  time,  handed  them 
a  letter  for  Winthrop. 

Upon  the  departure  of  one  whose  presence  had  imparted  so 
much  pleasure  ;  from  whom  no  unguarded  word  of  censure  or 
impatience  had  escaped,  and  who  had  revealed  a  mind  adorned 
with  such  rich  stores  of  culture,  the  scholastic  Bradford  sought 
his  study,  a  small  room,  or  closet,  well  supplied  with  books,  to 
meditate  on  what  had  happened  and  to  pursue  his  studies.  Ab 
sorbed  in  his  books,  hours  passed  away  unheeded,  and  he  re 
marked  not  the  opening  of  the  door  and  entrance  of  a  serving- 
man,  who,  seeing  his  master  engaged,  waited  respectfully  until  he 
should  be  noticed.  At  length  Bradford  looked  up  and  demanded 
his  business. 

"This,"  said  the   man,  "was  found  in  the  chamber  of  Sir 

19* 


450  THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

Christopher  Gardiner."  So  saying,  he  handed  to  the  Governor 
a  small  leathern  pocket-book,  such  as  were  used  for  making  mem 
oranda,  and  withdrew. 

Bradford,  on  being  left  alone,  turned  the  book  several  times 
in  his  hand  with  a  doubting  air,  then  placing  it  at  a  little 
distance  before  him,  leaned  his  head  on  his  elbow,  and  began  to 
muse. 

"  Publico  utilitati  cedet  jus  privatum"  he  said  at  last  aloud, 
and  opened  the  book.  He  had  hardly  glanced  his  eyes  at  the 
page,  when  they  lighted  up,  and  he  seemed  to  read  with  intense 
interest. 

"  Ha !"  he  exclaimed,  after  reading  through  several  leaves : 
"  was  ever  man  worse  deceived  ?  Here  have  I  been  harboring 
in  my  house  and  taking  to  my  bosom  a  concealed  Papist,  as 
this  writing  sufficiently  discloses.  Nor  yet  a  born  Papist  either, 
laboring  under  a  delusion  sucked  in  with  mother's  milk,  but 
a  recreant  Protestant,  a  voluntary  seeker  after  error ;  for  here 
are  written  down  the  memorial  of  his  shame,  the  very  time 
and  place  where  and  when  he  struck  hands  with  Anti-Christ, 
the  name  of  the  university  where  he  assumed  the  scapula,  as 
the  blinded  errorists  call  two  woollen  bands,  the  one  crossing 
the  breast  and  the  other  the  back,  one  of  those  ridiculous  mum 
meries  whereby,  with  other  devices  and  unseemly  grimaces, 
they  have  contrived  to  bring  the  cross  itself  of  the  Redeemer 
into  disrespect,  and  the  degrees  in  superstition  taken  by  this 
wretched  backslider.  Woe  is  me  !  How  can  the  arch-deceiver 
assume  the  form  of  an  angel  of  light !  Yet  is  here  no  name 
written.  The  memorandum  may  refer  to  some  one  else.  But 
that  cannot  be.  Himself  is  meant.  Why  should  he  carry  about 
with  him  a  note  of  this  kind  respecting  another?  This  be 
trayer  of  treachery,  this  touchstone  of  truth,  shall  off  forth 
with  to  Winthrop,  and  be  the  antidote  to  the  bane  of  my 
letter." 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.      451 

Thus  murmured  Governor  Bradford,  grieved  as  well  as  vexed 
at  the  deceit,  as  he  supposed  it  to  be.  "With  a  rapid  hand,  he 
wrote  an  account  of  his  discovery,  and  entrusting  it,  with  the 
note-book,  to  a  messenger,  commanded  him  to  hasten  after  the 
soldiers  from  Governor  Winthrop,  and  deliver  to  them  the 
package. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 


Nought  is  on  earth  more  sacred  or  divine, 
That  gods  and  men  do  equally  adore, 

Than  this  same  virtue  that  doth  right  define, 
For  th'  heavens  themselves,  whence  mortal  men  implore, 
Right  in  their  wrongs,  are  ruled  by  righteous  lore. 

SPENSER'S  FAEBY  QUEEN. 

IT  was  with  some  embarrassment  that  Governor  Winthrop 
received  his  prisoner,  though  none  was  manifested  in  the  mien  of 
Sir  Christopher.  On  the  contrary,  his  manner  indicated  conscious 
innocence,  and  just  that  degree  of  resentment  which  a  well- 
balanced  mind  and  good  temper  might  be  expected  to  exhibit 
under  the  circumstances.  If  there  was  any  change  in  his  bearing, 
he  was  a  trifle  haughtier,  as  presuming  on  his  rank — a  trait  never 
noticed  in  him  before,  and  it  showed  itself  by  his  speaking  first, 
without  waiting  to  be  addressed,  the  moment  he  entered  the  pres 
ence  of  the  Governor. 

"  By  what  authority,"  he  demanded  with  some  sternness,  "  is 
it,  that  I,  a  free-born  Englishman,  innocent  of  crime,  have  a 
price  set  on  my  head,  and  am  hunted  by  savages  bribed  for  that 
purpose  ?" 

Before  making  a  reply,  the  Governor  intimated  his  desire  to 
be  left  alone  with  the  Knight,  whereupon  those  present  retired. 

"  You  inquire  by  what  authority  you  are  arrested,"  said  Win 
throp.  "  I  answer,  by  that  authority  vested  in  me  by  charter, 


454      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

as  the  ruler  of  a  State  ;  by  common  law.,  and  by  common  sense. 
The  question  is  not  asked  by  one  with  the  endowments  of  Sir 
Christopher  Gardiner  because  he  is  ignorant,  but  for  some  other 
reason." 

"  Is  it  in  humanity,"  returned  the  Knight,  "  not  to  be  annoyed 
at  the  outrage?  How  bitterly,"  he  added,  looking  sorrowfully  at 
Winthrop,  "  is  the  pain  of  the  wound  aggravated  by  the  knowl 
edge  from  whose  quiver  flew  the  arrow  !" 

"  I  may  not  choose  between  my  duty  and  my  inclination,"  re 
sponded  the  Governor.  "  I  were,  otherwise,  more  unworthy  than 
I  am  of  the  awfully  responsible  station  which  Providence  hath 
assigned  me.  It  shall  never  be  said  that,  through  favor  or  other 
motive,  I  buried  the  one  talent  committed  to  my  keeping." 

"  I  dared  not,  at  my  entrance,"  replied  the  Knight,  who  strove 
to  make  his  tone  and  demeanor  conciliatory,  "entertain  the 
thought  that  a  friendly  feeling  toward  me  lurked  in  his  bosom, 
by  whose  mandate  my  helpless  household  has  been  invaded  in 
the  night  and  made  prisoners,  and  my  house  turned  into  a  heap 
of  ashes." 

"  It  was  by  no  order  of  mine,"  said  Winthrop,  hastily,  "  that 
the  house  was  burned,  and  I  lament  its  destruction  as  deeply  as 
yourself.  How  it  caught  fire,  is  to  me  unknown  ;  but  if  by  the 
act  of  our  people  and  not  of  the  savages,  ample  recompense 
shall  be  made." 

"  How  shall  that  be  determined  I  But  I  will  not  waste  my 
words  thereupon.  The  loss  of  my  house  and  other  property  is 
insignificant,  compared  with  the  cruel  wrong  done  the  Lady 
Geraldine  and  the  dishonor  to  my  name." 

"  She,  whom  you  call  the  Lady  Geraldine,  has  been  treated 
with  all  courtesy;  and,  considering  what,  in  the  judgment  of 
the  Council,  has  been  proved  against  her,  with  more  than  she  is 
entitled  to.  For  yourself,  every  opportunity  shall  be  granted  to 
clear  off  the  clouds  of  suspicion  hovering  over  you." 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  455 

"  Only  a  clear  field  and  no  favor  do  I  desire  for  myself;  but 
for  the  persecuted  lady,  my  cousin,  I  pledge  you  my  knightly 
word  that  any  charges  reflecting  upon  her  character  as  a  virtuous 
and  godly  lady,  are  infamous  and  false,  You  perceive,  right 
worshipful  sir,  that  I  do  not  pretend  to  be  ignorant  of  the  accu 
sations  which  inventive  malice,  hatched  out  of  what  cockatrice 
egg  I  kno\\  not,  has  brought  against  my  suffering  cousin,  but  I 
pronounce  them,  again,  alike  dastardly  and  without  truth." 

"  If  so,  she  is,  indeed,  greatly  wronged,  though  partly  respon 
sible  herself  therefor,  as  having  confessed  the  same." 

"  Then  have  strange  means  been  employed  to  make  her  ac 
knowledge  a  lie,"  said  the  Knight,  warmly,  "for  any  such  con 
fession  were  utterly  untrue.  I  have  heard  of  wretches,  who, 
upon  the  rack,  in  order  to  escape  its  intolerable  agonies,  have 
accused  themselves  of  all  sorts  of  crimes  of  which  they  were 
innocent.  Is  this  the  way  you  have  abused  my  relative  ?" 

"  Sir  Christopher,"  answered  Winthrop,  mildly,  "  you  know 
as  well  as  I  that  such  practices  are  alien  to  the  spirit  of  British 
law  and  unused  by  us.  Touching  this  unhappy  female,  I  think 
it  meet  to  say  no  more  at  present,  but  will  wish  you  success  in 
the  vindication  of  yourself." 

"  For  myself,"  replied  the  Knight,  "  I  care  little.  The  char 
acter  of  a  man  is  like  a  garment,  which,  when  soiled,  may  be 
washed  and  restored  to  a  likeness  of  its  pristine  beauty  ;  that  of 
a  woman  resembles  white  paper,  whereupon  if  a  drop  of  blood 
has  ever  fallen,  it  may  never  be  erased.  But  what  are  the  accu 
sations  devised  against  me?" 

"  Sir  Christopher,"  answered  Winthrop,  with  some  hesitation, 
"  it  were  hardly  orderly  to  communicate  them  to  you  now.  Be 
fore  the  Council,  perhaps,  should  you  hear  them  first.  And  yet 
see  I  no  reason  why,  in  harmony  with  the  merciful  spirit  of  our 
law,  they  should  not  be  disclosed.  We  desire  to  overpower  no 
man  by  surprise,  or  to  deprive  truth  of  a  single  aid.  You  shall 
know." 


456  THE   KNTGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN   MELICE. 

Here  Winthrop  entered  into  the  particulars,  which  it  is,  we 
trust,  unnecessary  to  set  down,  as  the  reader  is  supposed  to  be 
already  informed  of  them.  He  mentioned  the  contents  of  the 
letters  from  England,  but  did  not  exhibit  them,  concealing  nothing 
except  what  appertained  to  the  examination  of  the  Lady  Geral- 
dine,  all  inquiries  respecting  which  he  either  evaded  or  directly 
refused  to  answer.  Courteously,  indeed,  was  it  done ;  nor  could 
Sir  Christopher  deny  that  the  information  was  rightfully  with 
held.  It  was  only  in  accordance  with  the  usual  proceedings 
of  courts  of  justice,  when  those  who  are  considered  accomplices 
are  examined  apart  from  one  another,  in  order  that  they  may 
not,  by  a  knowledge  of  each  other's  answers,  be  better  able  to 
frame  their  own. 

To  every  accusation  Sir  Christopher  opposed  a  steady  denial. 
"  That  falsely  suspected  as  I  am,"  he  said,  "  of  other  crimes  and 
misdemeanors,  I  should  also  be  deemed  an  usurper  of  a  title  that 
does  not  belong  to  me,  surprises  me  not.  But  grant  me  time  to 
send  home,  (as  the  English  in  the  colonies  affectionately  call  Eng 
land  to  this  day,)  and  I  will  prove  my  knighthood  honorably  won 
upon  a  stricken  field,  by  irrefragable  testimony.  I  will  not  deny 
that  I  have  the  honor  of  an  acquaintance  with  Sir  Ferdinando 
Gorges,  but  I  am  in  no  sense  his  agent,  nor  in  any  wise  hold 
communication  with  him,  save  as  a  friend.  For  the  note-book 
found  at  my  lodgings,  and  deemed  conclusive  proof  that  I  am  a 
Catholic,  I  aver  that  the  memorandum  therein  contained  refers 
not  to  myself  but  to  one  whom  it  concerns  not  you  that  I  should 
name ;  and  it  furnishes  no  evidence  against  me,  except  what 
arises  out  of  the  fact  that  I  acknowledge  one  who  is  of  Rome 
to  be  my  friend." 

"Whatever  my  private  thoughts,"  said  Winthrop,  "it  were 
useless  to  express  them,  seeing  that  thy  fate  hangs  not  entirely 
upon  me.  With  no  unnecessary  severity,"  he  continued,  in  a 
kinder  tone  than  he  had  hitherto  adopted  during  the  conversa- 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  457 

tion,  "  will  I  treat  one,  whom,  before  these  unhappy  suspicions 
were  raised,  I  was  beginning  to  love  as  a  brother ;  and,  if  thou 
wilt  pledge  me  thine  honor  neither  to  attempt  escape,  nor  by 
word  or  deed  to  practise  aught  against  the  Commonwealth,  thou 
shalt  have  liberty  of  the  precincts  of  the  settlement  until  the 
Council  shall  take  further  orders." 

"  I  accept  thine  offer,"  answered  Sir  Christopher,  "  and  plight 
thee  my  knightly  troth  to  observe  the  conditions.  And  in  this, 
my  adversity,  it  is  a  consolation  to  know  that  the  noblest  spirit 
who  is  to  sit  in  judgment  on  me,  believes  me  not  wholly  lost  to 
the  duties  and  sensibilities  of  a  gentleman." 

The  Governor,  without  reply,  summoned  Lieutenant  Venn, 
who  was  in  waiting ;  and,  after  communicating  to  him  the  con 
clusion  to  which  he  had  come,  requested  him  to  escort  the  Knight 
to  his  lodging. 

A  few  days  passed,  during  which  Sir  Christopher  was  seem 
ingly  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  freedom,  though  closely  watched. 
He  attempted  to  speak  with  the  Lady  Geraldine,  but  was  re 
fused  permission ;  and  upon  her  being  told  of  his  desire,  she 
sent  him  word  that  she  had  no  wish  to  see  him.  No  objection, 
however,  was  interposed  to  his  intercourse  with  Arundel,  who, 
with  his  lovely  mistress,  did  all  in  their  power  to  console  the 
Knight  and  the  unhappy  lady  in  their  misfortunes.  The  relation 
which  the  latter  stood  to  the  colony  affected  not  the  young 
people,  except  to  excite  their  sympathies  for  those  whom  they 
considered  unjustly  suspected  and  persecuted. 

It  might  be  supposed  that  in  these  circumstances  Sir  Christo 
pher  would  betray  some  anxiety  or  gloom.  Far  from  it.  The 
command  over  his  emotions  which  nature  and  discipline  had  given 
him,  concealed  his  trouble  of  mind.  He  seemed  to  think  but 
little  of  himself,  and  to  be  principally  occupied  with  the  ap 
proaching  nuptials  of  Arundel  and  Eveline,  who,  immediately 
thereafter,  were  to  sail  for  England  in  the  ship  commanded  by 


458      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

the  jolly  Captain  Sparhawk.  The  ceremony,  in  order  to  give  it  the 
greater  dignity,  was  to  be  performed  by  Winthrop  himself,  the  right 
to  tie  the  mystical  knot  being,  among  these  planters  of  new  customs 
in  a  new  world,  confined  to  the  civil  magistrate.  Strongly,  at  first, 
did  the  young  lady  object,  and  it  needed  all  the  eloquence  of  her 
lover,  and  all  her  affection  for  him,  to  prevail  upon  her  to  dis 
pense  with  the  priestly  blessing.  However,  there  was  no  alter 
native,  if  they  meant  to  be  married  before  their  departure  ;  and 
the  circumstances  of  their  situation  and  mutual  inclination  were 
persuasive  arguments.  Voyages,  too,  were  not  then  as  safe  as  now ; 
and  to  the  romantic  girl  contemplating  the  dangers  of  the  sea, 
there  was  something  sweet  and  even  fascinating  in  the  thought, 
that  if  she  perished,  she  should  die  in  the  arms  of  her  husband. 
This  last  consideration,  above  all,  prevailed  to  overcome  her 
scruples,  and  the  uncanonical  marriage  was  accordingly  deter 
mined  upon.  , 

At  length  the  day  arrived  for  the  hearing  of  Sir  Christopher, 
and,  attended  by  Arundel,  he  presented  himself  before  the  Coun 
cil.  It  is  unnecessary  to  enter  into  details.  The  result  is  all  that 
need  be  stated.  The  accusations  contained  in  the  letters,  though 
denied  by  the  Knight,  (who  vehemently  protested  against  the 
liberties  taken  with  those  addressed  to  himself,  on  •which  latter 
was  founded  the  charge  of  being  in  correspondence  with  Sir  Fer- 
dinando  Gorges,  the  most  dreaded  enemy  of  the  colony,) 
obtained  credence  with  his  judges.  Winthrop  blushed  when 
reproached  with  the  violation  of  the  letters;  but  the  rough 
Dudley  justified  and  commended  the  act,  as  fidelity  to  public 
interests.  There  was  a  settled  conviction  in  the  minds  of  all  of 
the  Assistants,  that  the  Lady  Geraldine  was  other  than  she 
seemed ;  and  the  conclusion  they  had  arrived  at  concerning  her 
were  not  of  a  nature  to  operate  favorably  for  the  Knight.  The 
memorandum  in  the  note-book  was  also  considered  weighty  evi 
dence.  It  was  recollected,  that  long  before  suspicions  were  con 


THE    KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  459 

ceived  concerning  Sir  Christopher,  and  when  he  stood  highest  in 
the  favor  of  the  principal  inhabitants,  he  had,  in  speaking  of  his 
travels  in  foreign  parts,  mentioned  that  he  was  at  the  very  place 
where,  and  at  the  time  when  the  scapula  was  assumed  ;  and  his 
ascribing  the  reference  to  another,  was  regarded  as  only  an  awk 
ward  attempt  at  deception.  It  was  thought  plainly  to  betray 
him  as  a  member  of  a  religious  order  among  the  Roman  Catho 
lics.  Winthrop  himself  was  of  that  opinion,  and  that,  without 
more,  was  sufficient  to  support  an  unfavorable  decision.  The 
idea  of  having  covert  Papists  lurking  in  their  midst  was  not  to 
be  tolerated,  and,  by  whatever  means,  they  were  to  be  got  rid 
of.  Allusion  was  made  to  his  embassy  to  the  Taranteens,  and 
services  rendered  on  that  and  other  occasions,  but  they  were 
deemed  insufficient  to  neutralize  his  guilt ;  yet,  in  consideration 
of  those  services,  they  forbore  to  inflict  any  severe  punishment. 
The  sentence  of  the  Council  was,  that  both  the  Knight  and  lady 
should  be  sent  back  to  England  in  the  next  ship,  and  forbidden 
to  return. 

"  All  England  shall  ring  with  the  report  of  your  injustice," 
cried  Sir  Christopher,  when  the  decision  was  announced.  "  Ye 
do  yourselves  more  wrong  than  me,  and  the  time  will  come 
when  ye  shall  hang  your  heads  with  shame  for  the  deed.  Ye  have 
power,  it  is  true,  to  extrude  me  from  this  new  world,  but  my 
presence  will  be  a  bane  to  you  in  the  old.  I  go  with  solemn  pro 
test  against  your  violence." 

"  Enough,"  said  Winthrop,  rising  with  dignity,  "  of  threats 
which  we  notice  not,  because  we  are  above  them.  The  men 
who  are  founding  an  empire,  whose  future  extent  and  power  hu 
man  sagacity  cannot  limit,  and  who,  for  the  sake  of  present 
liberty  of  thought  and  action,  and  of  prospective  blessings  for 
their  descendants,  have  renounced  and  count  as  naught  the  vani 
ties  of  this  world,  fear  no  arm  of  flesh.  Their  shield  is  the  Lord 
of  Hosts.  This  Council  is  dissolved." 


CHAPTER  XXXVH. 


"  To  feel  that  we  adore 

With  such  refined  excess, 
That  though  the  heart  would  burst  with  more, 
We  could  not  live  with  less." 

MOOBX. 


FAIR  rose  the  morn  of  the  day  which  was  to  unite  the 
destinies  of  Miles  Arundel  and  of  Eveline  Dunning,  as  if  to  make 
some  amends  for  the  clouds  which  had  attended  the  progress  of 
their  affection. 

With  a  tear  in  her  eye,  and  smiles  in  the  dimples  of  her  plump 
cheeks,  Dame  Spikeman  looked  on  the  adorning  of  the  lady  for 
the  marriage  ceremony,  by  the  cunning  fingers  of  Prudence  Bix. 
She  thought,  as  she  gazed  on  the  fair,  young  face,  of  her  own 
maiden  beauty,  of  the  timid  happiness  that  palpitated  in  her 
bosom  on  her  wedding-day,  of  the  dress  that  heightened  her 
charms,  and  (shall  I  so  soon  acknowledge  it  *?)  of  what  would  be 
becoming  for  herself  on  a  like  occasion,  wherein  she  was  to  bear  a 
principal  part,  and  the  too-fascinating  Master  Prout  another. 
Let  not  the  solemn  pretender  to  decorum,  who,  in  proportion  to 
his  demureness,  is  apt  to  be  worse  than  others,  with  owlish 
visage  quote,  "  frailty,  thy  name  is  woman,"  or,  "  e'er  those 
shoes  were  old,"  or  whatever  musty  apothegms  besides,  as  stale 
and  senseless.  The  name  of  Frailty  is  no  more  woman  than 
man,  and  old  shoes  have  no  business  at  weddings.  Stand  aside 


462  THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE. 

0  censorious  reader,  (I  desire  not  thy  acquaintance,)  while  I 
whisper  to  both  maid  and  widow,  what,  probably,  they  have 
often  pondered — that  life  is   short,   and  that  in  Heaven  they 
neither  marry  nor  are  given  in  marriage. 

"Bless  thy  sweet  face!"  said  the  dame.  (" Pull  down  the 
stomacher  a  little,  Prudence ;  an'  it  had  been  a  thought  longer 
it  were  better.)  Ne'er  saw  I  so  lovely  a  bride." 

"It  is  the  latest  London  fashion,"  muttered  Prudence,  "  that 
hath  come  to  these  outlandish  parts,  where,  thank  the  Lord,  our 
stay  will  not  be  much  longer  than  the  stomacher." 

"  What  is  the  girl  chattering  about  1"  said  the  dame.  "  Why, 
Prudence  Pert,  thou  wilt  tear  the  beautiful  satin  with  thine  im 
patience." 

"  You  have  already  made  me  prick  my  lingers  three  times, 
dame,"  answered  the  waiting-maid,  pettishly.  "  I  never  could 
dress  my  young  lady  aright,  when  I  was  talked  to.  There  !  O 
dear  !  you  have  made  me  cut  a  ribbon  in  the  wrong  place  !" 

"  Did  ever  one  see  the  like !"  exclaimed  the  widow,  as,  with  a 
jerk  of  the  petulant  Prudence,  a  few  stitches  now  gave  way. 
"  Why,  minx,  thou  art  as  much  flustrated  as  if  thou  wert  to  be 
married  thyself." 

"  I  know  somebody,  I  guess,"  said  the  girl,  in  so  low  a  tone  as 
to  be  heard  only  by  her  mistress,  close  to  whose  ear  was  her 
mouth,  "  who  would  like  to  be  flustrated  in  that  manner." 

Eveline  could  not  restrain  her  smiles  at  the  impertinence  of 
her  maid,  and  her  gaiety  seemed  to  please  the  good  dame. 

"  Thou  art  a  sensible  child,  Eveline,"  she  said.     "  Now  have 

1  known  many  a  wedding,  and  generally  there  are  quite  as  many 
tears  as  smiles  at  them.     I  like  not  that,  exactly,  though  I  be 
lieve  I  was  as  great  a  simpleton  as   most,  when  I  mar (here 

the  dame  decorously  put  her  handkerchief  to  her  eyes  to  receive 

the  tears  which  she  did  not  shed) — when  I ;  but  I  must  not 

think  of  my  sorrow,  when  thy  happiness  is  just  commencing." 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE.  463 

(Dame  Spikeman  wiped  her  eyes,  and  went  on  more  composedly.) 
"  There  is  nothing  thou  hast  cause  to  fear,  and  thouwilt  soon  get 
used  to  it.  But,  who  is  to  be  thy  bridesmaid  1" 

"  It  was  my  intent  to  have  had  little  Neebin,"  replied  the 
young  lady.  "  It  would  have  sounded  so  prettily  in  England 
to  say  that  an  Indian  Princess  stood  up  with  me,  for  Miles  says 

that  she  is  the  sister  of  a  great  king — of  Waqua ;  thou 

dost  recollect  him,  Prudence  ?" 

"  The  funny  salvage,"  said  the  girl,  "  who  mistook  a  painting  for 
a  live  man.  But  to  think  of  the  like  of  the  sister  of  an  Indian, 
though  he  be  a  handsome  fellow,  going  to  the  'menial  halter  with 
my  mistress!"  she  added,  tossing  her  head. 

"The  danger  is  past,  Prudence,"  said  Eveline,  "for  Miles  tells 
me  she  has  run  away  from  the  Governor's,  and  was  last  seen  in 
the  woods  with  one  of  her  brother's  Paniese,  as  the  savages  call 
their  greatest  warriors,  Town — ,  Town — ,  I  forget  his  name, 
but  they  were  going  in  the  direction  of  their  own  country." 

"  Toweringantic  was  the  salvage's  name,"  said  Prudence.  "I 
remember  it  very  well,  because  it  sounds  so  like  English." 

"That  is  it  not  precisely,  "said  the  young  lady,  with  a  smile; 
"  but  it  matters  not  about  the  name.  Our  little  Princess  has  fled 
to  her  home,  and  I  am  left  without  a  bridesmaid." 

"The  ungrateful  heathen!"  exclaimed  the  dame.  "  Only  to 
think  of  her  deserting  the  comfortable  house  of  our  right  wor 
shipful  Governor,  and  instruction  in  the  Christian  graces  by 
godly  Master  Phillips,  for  the  smoky  wigwams  and  powawing  of 
the  Indians.  The  girl,  I  am  sure,  will  come  to  no  good,  and  I 
will  never  trust  one  of  these  Canaanites  again." 

"  Nay ;  but  dame,"  said  Eveline,  "  I  rejoice  that  she  escaped. 
I  did  much  pity  her  in  her  captivity,  for  she  seemed  to  me  like 
a  wild  bird,  that  hath  all  its  life  been  accustomed  to  fly  in  the 
air,  which  had  been  caught  and  put  into  a  cage,  where  it  sits 
constantly  with  moping  head  and  drooping  wings,  forgetful  of  the 
songs  which  made  its  woodland  home  so  sweet." 


464  THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE. 

"  I  did  never  like  to  disagree  in  opinion  with  thee,  Eveline," 
said  the  dame,  "and  leastwise  would  I  do  so,  of  all  days  in  the 
year,  on  thy  wedding-day;  so  have  it  as  thou  wilt.  For  thy 
sweet  sake,  whom  I  am  so  soon  to  lose,  I  could  find  it  in  my 
heart  to  be  pleased  at  anything  the  little  savage  might  do,  were 
she  twenty  times  a  heathen  Amalakite  or  Jebusite." 

"Dame,"  said  Eveline,  kissing  her  comely  cheek,  "  how  shall 
I  ever  be  able  to  repay  thy  motherly  kindness  ?  O,  wherever  I 
may  be,  and  whatever  my  lot,  I  will  ever  think  of  thee  as  my 
second  mother." 

"  Dear  child,"  replied  the  dame,  moved  to  tears,  which  flowed 
with  womanly  facility,  "  never  had  mother  a  sweeter  and  more 
loving  daughter  than  thou  hast  been  to  me.  Hast  thou  not  done 
more  than  most  daughters,  in  giving  me  all  the  property  that  re 
mains  to  thee  here  1" 

"  Speak  not  of  it,  dame,"  answered  Eveline,  "  though  it  is 
Miles'  gift,  for  he  desired  me  to  give  it  thee." 

"  Oh!  dame,  do  not  disturb  my  young  lady  more,  for  if  you 
get  her  crying,  think  how  her  eyes  would  look,"  here  interposed 
Prudence,  very  sensibly. 

"It  is  time  that  I  were  attending  to  my  own  apparelling, 
which,  in  looking  at  thee,  I  quite  forgot,"  said  the  widow,  rising, 
and  leaving  the  apartment. 

The  marriage,  which  took  place  at  the  house  of  the  Gover 
nor,  was  private,  and  attended  only  by  some  of  the  principal 
personages  of  the  colony  and  their  families.  Besides  the  Knight 
of  the  Golden  Melice,  Sir  Richard  Saltonstall,  who  was  to  sail 
in  the  same  ship  with  the  « young  people,  came  with  his  two 
daughters,  as  did  also  Master  Increase  Nowell,  and  Master 
Bradstreet.  No  minister  was  present,  the  order  resenting,  it  may 
be,  in  a  quiet  way,  an  invasion  of  their  prerogative,  which  exclu 
ded  them  from  business  of  this  sort ;  but  in  the  solemn  and  grace 
ful  manner  in  which  the  accomplished  Winthrop  performed  the 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  465 

ceremony,  no  one  noticed  any  deficiency,  not  even  Eveline  her 
self,  who,  indeed,  was  thinking  of  other  matters.  Winthrop 
concluded  his  part  with  a  little  speech,  in  which  he  reminded  the 
young  couple  of  the  new  duties  they  had  assumed,  and  of  ths 
loving  mystery  whereby  two  souls  were  united  into  one,  like  two 
brooks,  which,  pouring  each  into  the  other  their  bright  waters, 
flow  on,  inseparably  joined,  to  the  ocean  of  eternity.  Something 
he  said,  too,  of  the  blessedness  of  a  true  faith,  as  a  crowning 
glory,  without  which  the  world  was  but  an  unprofitable 
desert. 

Scarcely  had  the  congratulations  which  followed  the  sweet 
voice  of  the  Governor  ceased,  when  a  stranger,  an  honored  friend 
of  Master  Bradstreet,  and  who  had  come  with  him,  stepped  for 
ward,  and  saluting  Arundel  by  the  title  of  the  Earl  of  Ciiffmere, 
informed  him  that  he  had  matters  of  importance  to  commu 
nicate. 

"  I  had  waited  upon  you,  my  lord,  before,"  he  said,  "  even 
upon  the  instant  of  my  arrival,  had  I  known  where  to  find  you ; 
but  I  suspected  you  not  under  your  assumed  name." 

"  I  welcome  you,"  said  the  Earl,  advancing  and  taking  the 
stranger's  hand,  "  I  welcome  you,  Master  Hatherly,  to  the  new 
world,  which  I  this  day  leave,  probably  forever.  As  for  thy 
news,  1  think  thou  art  anticipated :  I  am  informed  by  letters 
brought  by  the  vessel  wherein  you  came,  that  my  father  and 
eldest  brother  are  no  more,  and  that  the  coronet  which  I  would 
willingly  place  upon  their  living  brows,  alas,  is  mine.  Wonder 
ful  is  the  drama  of  life.  I  abandoned  rank  and  fortune,"  he  ad 
ded,  looking  with  eyes  swimming  in  love  upon  his  wife,  "to  seek 
that  without  which  they  possessed  no  value.  They  have  pur 
sued  me  across  the  sea,  and,  besides,  I  have  obtained  my  dearest 
treasure." 

The  astonished  Eveline  hid  her  face  in  the  bosom  of  her  hus 
band,  while  tears  of  happiness  fell  fast.  Bewildered,  amazed  at 

20 


466      THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELTCE. 

the  discovery  of  the  rank  of  her  lover,  she  knew  not  what  to  say  ; 
but  amid  all  her  confusion,  prevailed  triumphantly  a  sense  of 
sparkling  joy,  of  full  contentment,  and  of  radiant  hope. 

"  Why  should  I  conceal  from  you,  noble  Winthrop,  from  you, 
my  valued  friend,  Sir  Christopher,  or  from  any  of  you,  my 
other  friends,  with  whom  I  would  leave  no  unsatisfactory  remem 
brance  of  myself,  the  little  romance  that  brought  me  among  you," 
continued  the  Earl.  "Know,  that  a  second  son  of  the  deceased 
Earl  of  Cliffmere,  I  wooed,  in  the  character  of  an  humble  pain 
ter,  the  sweet  daughter  of  Edmund  Dunning.  He  aspired  higher 
than  to  unite  the  destinies  of  his  only  child  with  those  of  an 
unknown  artist,  and  looked  coldly  on  my  suit.  He  left  England 
with  her,  and  I,  unable  to  endure  the  pangs  of  separation,  desired  to 
follow.  My  mother  knew  of  my  attachment  from  the  beginning, 
and  to  my  entreaties  yielded  her  acquiescence  to  my  desires,  for 
she  loved  me  greatly,  and  had  informed  herself  of  the  worth  of 
her  to  whom  I  had  given  my  heart,  but  required  me  to  wait  for 
the  permission  of  my  father  (absent  at  the  time  on  the  continent) 
before  I  followed  Eveline  to  this  new  world.  That  permission 
I  received,  and  straightway  departed.  Still  I  continued  to  con 
ceal  my  true  name  and  station  from  even  Eveline  herself,  for  a 
reason,  perhaps,  more  romantic  than  rational ;  for,  with  selfish 
jealousy,  I  chose  to  be  loved  for  my  own  sake,  nor  did  I  mean 
my  secret  should  be  revealed  until  I  had  presented  my  wife  to 
my  parents, — but  the  curtain  has  been  unexpectedly  lifted,  and  ye 
know  all." 

"  I  congratulate  you,  my  lord,"  said  Winthrop,  "  and  will 
venture  to  do  so  also  in  the  name  of  all  present,  upon  the  auspi 
cious  termination  of  your  fortunes  among  us,  and  only  lament 
that  so  little  time  is  left  us  to  express  our  respect.  When  re 
turned  to  our  dear  mother  England,  from  whose  bosom  we  are 
self-banished,  yet  whom,  with  filial  reverence,  we  love,  we  trust 
that  you  will  not  forget  your  brethren  in  the  wilderness.  It  i» 


THE   KMGHT  OF  THE   GULDEN    MELICE.  467 

upon  the  far-seeing  judgment  of  those  in  high  places,  as  well 
as  upon  the  zeal  of  the  people,  [all  under  God,]  that  we  rely  to 
assist  us  in  extending  the  material  and  earthly  power  of  our 
country,  as  well  as  in  spreading  the  doctrines  of  true  religion." 

''''  Be  sure,  sir,"  answered  the  Earl,  "  that  I  will  endeavor  to 
do  my  duty  toward  you  according  to  my  honest  convictions. 
And  now,  Eveline,  bid  farewell.  The  favoring  breeze  is  bellying 
in  the  half  unfurled  sails,  gallant  Captain  Sparhawk  is  impatient, 
aud  we  must  away." 

Lady  Eveline  fell  upon  the  neck  of  the  weeping  Dame  Spike- 
man,  and  after  kissing  her  repeatedly,  exchanged  farewells  with 
those  around  her,  [as  did  all  about  to  depart,]  and  then,  accom 
panied  by  a  numerous  train,  the  passengers  proceeded  to  the  ship, 
whither  the  Lady  Geraldine  had  preceded  them,  and  where,  also, 
they  found  Philip  Joy.  The  sails  were  cast  off  from  the  yards 
and  hoisted  home  ;  the  fair  wind  gracefully  curved  the  canvas, 
and  the  good  ship,  with  silver  waves  breaking  at  her  prow,  and  a 
stream  of  light  following  in  her  wake,  gallantly  stood  down  the 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

So,  splendid  dreams,  and  slumbers  sweet, 
To  each  and  all— Good  Night. 

WILLIAM  E.  HURLBUT. 

HERE  might  this  tale  be  permitted  to  end,  were  it  not  that 
a  doubt  has  arisen  in  my  mind  whether  some  particulars  do  not 
need  explanation.  Doubtless  the  nimble  wits  of  the  sagacious 
have  fathomed  to  their  satisfaction  all  that  seemed  mysterious; 
but  there  may  be  others  who,  either  less  imaginative  or  more  in 
dolent,  would  like  an  elaborate  elucidation.  These  latter  I  invite 
to  accompany  me  across  the  blue  Atlantic  to  the  pleasant  town 
of  Exeter,  in  the  lovely  county  of  Devon,  in  England. 

In  the  nave  of  the  splendid  old  cathedral  of  that  town,  two 
men,  engaged  in  conversation,  are  walking  backwards  and  for 
wards,  one  of  whom  we  recognize  as  the  Knight  of  the  Golden 
Melice  ;  the  other  is  a  stranger.  Through  the  stained  glass,  the 
dim  light  of  a  winter's  afternoon  falls  indistinctly  on  the  stone 
floor,  while  from  behind  the  screen  which  separates  the  open 
area  where  they  are  pacing  from  the  portion  devoted  to  religious 
worship,  the  solemn  tones  of  an  organ  (for  it  is  the  time  of  eve 
ning  service)  are  floating  around  the  massy  pillars  and  among  the 
sculptured  arches,  as  if  imploring  saintly  rest  for  the  high  born 
nobles  and  reverend  bishops  who,  for  hundreds  of  years,  have 
lain  in  their  marble  tombs  around.  None  are  present  save  the 
two,  and,  as  with  reverent  feet  they  tread,  they  seem  dwarfed 
into  children  by  the  huge  proportions  of  the  building. 


470  THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICB. 

"Two  beings  more  blessed  with  mutual  affection  than  the 
young  Earl  of  Cliffmere  and  his  lovely  countess  I  know  not," 
said  the  Knight,  continuing  the  conversation.  "  Three  weeks 
remained  I  with  them  in  their  magnificent  palace  at  London,  the 
attractions  whereof  were  tenfold  heightened  by  his  courteous 
bearing  and  her  graciousness.  Nor  could  I  without  difficulty 
tear  myself  away,  so  lovingly  they  delighted  to  dwell  upon  the 
time  when,  as  Miles  Arundel,  he  wooed  Eveline  Dunning,  or 
hunted  with  me,  in  the  wilds  of  America,  and  so  sweet  were  their 
attentions  to  my  chafed  spirit.  With  them  is  my  trusty  Philip, 
whose  trials  are  now  over,  while  he  basks  in  the  favor  of  the 
Earl  and  the  smiles  of  the  pretty  Prudence,  his  wife,  undisturbed 
save  by  her  occasional  coquetry,  which  only  serves,  I  suppose,  to 
make  his  love  more  piquant." 

"A  pleasing  episode  in  your  romantic  life,"  said  the  stranger; 
but  know  you  perfectly  how  you  came  to  leave  America  so  sud 
denly?" 

"  There  is  a  mystery  connected  therewith  which  hath  ever 
puzzled  me,"  replied  the  Knight. 

"  How  felt  you  in  reference  to  the  plan  of  converting  an  Eng 
lish  into  a  French  colony  ?" 

"  I  did  never  either  feel  therefor  inclination,  or  give  it  the  ap 
probation  of  my  judgment.  I  cannot  forget  'that  I  am  an  Eng 
lishman."  '  • 

"  And  did  Sister  Celestina  know  your  sentiments  ?"  inquired 
the  stranger. 

"  Surely.  Wherefore  should  I  have  hesitated  to  bestow  on 
one  so  devoted  my  absolute  confidence  ?" 

"  Ne  crede  principibus"  said  the  stranger,  "  is  no  more  worthy 
of  acceptance  than  ne  crede  feminis." 

"  Chosen  friend  of  my  soul,  sworn  brother  of  my  heart,"  ex 
claimed  the  Knight,  "  I  conjure  thee  to  tell  me  what  thou  know- 
est  or  dost  suspect  of  these  mysterious  circumstances." 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE.  47 1 

"  Thou  hast  borne,  beloved  friend,  a  cross,  whereof  thou  knew- 
est  not.  You  were  betrayed,  like  him  whose  name  you  bear, 
even  in  the  house  of  your  friends." 

"  A  light  begins  to  dawn  upon  my  mind.  And  Sister  Celes- 
tina " 

"Aye,  Sister  Celestina,  or,  as  she  must  now  be  called,  the 
Abbess  of  St.  Idle  whim,  was  the  traitress.  Yet,  why  call  I  her 
so  ?  She  did  but  obey  her  vow." 

"  May  it  please  thee,  Albert,  to  be  more  explicit  I" 

"  Know,  then,"  said  the  stranger,  "  that  it  was  in  consequence 
of  representations  from  Sister  Celestina  thou  wast  recalled." 

"  How  knowest  thou  this  to  be  true  ?" 

"  Ask  me  not,  for  that  I  dare  not  reveal ;  but  I  swear,  by  the 
bones  of  Loyola,  and  by  our  mutual  friendship,  that  it  is  the  sin 
cere  truth.  Father (I  will  not  breathe  his  name,  he' 

added,  looking  cautiously  around,)  loves  thee  not.  Thou  wert 
in  his  way,  and  he  had  thee  removed  from  England.  He  is 
strong  now  and  fears  thee  no  longer,  and  has  had  thee  sent  igno- 
miniously  home,  seizing  hold  of  the  idle  suspicions  of  a  woman 
as  a  pretext." 

"  I  see  now,"  said  the  Knight,  "  reasons  for  her  conduct,  which 
at  the  time  seemed  inexplicable.  But  what  reported  Celestina  to 
him?" 

"  .Recollect  you  your  offer  to  join  the  congregation?"  , 

"  It  was  but  a  stratagem." 

"  But  so  could  she  not  understand  it.  Besides,  she  mistrusted 
thine  intimacy  with  Winthrop,  and  his  influence  over  thee." 

"  I  loved  the  man  for  his  gracious  qualities,  heretic  though  he 
be  ;.  but  he  never  influenced  me." 

"The  intense  zeal  of  Celestina,  guided  only  by  her  womanly 
instincts,  was  unable  to  comprehend  thy  feeling.  She  communi 
cated  her  suspicions  to  the  Father,  and  it  was  his  pleasure  to  re 
ceive  them  as  truths  and  act  accordingly.  It  was  the  father  who 


472  THE  KKIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN   MELICE. 

wrote  the  letters,  signing  thereto  feigned  names,  and  charging 
thee  with  crimes  as  feigned.  It  was  he  who,  to  avert  suspicion 
from  our  order  (for  news  had  come  that  the  jealousy  of  the  prick- 
ear'd  heretics  was  aroused,  and  that  they  were  on  sharp  look-out 
for  Catholics,)  hesitated  not  to  slander  the  Sister,  his  own  confi 
dential  agent,  trusting,  by  the  magnitude  and  foulness  of  the 
charges,  so  to  fill  the  minds  of  your  judges,  that  other  surmises 
would  be  thrust  out,  and  thus  the  ground  be  preserved  for  fur 
ther  operations." 

"  I  understand,"  said  the  Knight,  "  that  my  successor  has  de 
parted." 

"  He  has  gone.  Sister  Celeslina,  in  her  elevation,  forgets  her 
temporary  humiliation,  and  Sir  Christopher  Gardiner " 

"  Is  the  victim  of  a  woman's  suspicions  and  of  a  monk's  pol 
icy.  Albert,  I  thank  thee ;  my  mind  is  now  at  ease,  and  I  shall 
no  longer  beat  the  air  in  vain  attempts  to  discover  my  accusers, 
unsubstantial  figments  of  the  Father's  imagination.  But  why 
told  you  me  not  on  my  arrival  in  London,  when  I  did  so  eagerly 
search  for  the  infamous  varlets  who  had  attempted  to  attaint  my 
honor,  and  when  vain,  of  course,  were  my  exertions  ?" 

*'  I  ^ya3  not  then  v  permitted.  And  now,  I  rely  upon  thy  dis 
cretion  to  bury  the  secret  in  thy  breast.  Any  other  course  might 
be  fatal  to  us  both." 

"  Fear  me  not,"  said  Sir  Christopher.  "  I  have  been  exam 
ining  my  heart,  and  find  I  bear  no  malice  against  the  holy  Father. 
It  was  time  we  should  be  removed,  and  the  means,  though  harsh, 
were  politic  ;  for  suspicions  of  our  being  Catholics  were  rife,  and 
what  may  sound  strangely,'  our  friendship,  Albert,  served  to  con 
firm  them." 

"Explain  thy  meaning." 

"  Out  of  my  love  to  thee,  and  as  a  remembrancer  for  myself,  I 
had  made  a  note  in  my  pocket-book  of  the  time  and  place  of  thy 
admission  into  the  holy  Catholic  Church,  of  the  taking  of  thy 


THE   KNIGHT  OF  THE   GOLDEN  MELICE.  473 

scapula,  and  of  thy  degrees,  whereunto  I  had  appended  no  name. 
This  book  escaping  from  my  pocket,  was  found  and  delivered  to 
my  judges,  and  considered  pregnant  proof  against  me." 

"  The  writing  was  a  great  imprudence,"  said  the  stranger. 

itOonftteorJ  and  whatever  shame  I  may  have  endured  I  accept 
as  the  fitting  punishment  of  my  sins.  Alas  !  my  individual  sor 
rows  are  swallowed  up  in  grief  at  the  thought  of  the  condition 
of  the  Church.  How  doth  she  sit  like  a  widow  in  affliction ! 
The  flood-gates  of  error  are  opened,  and  the  world  is  deluged 
with  impure  streams.  When  1  look  on  the  marble  images  of  the 
crusaders,  lying  with  crossed  legs  upon  their  tombs  around  us, 
and  on  the  cold  faces  of  the  abbots  and  mitred  bishops,  standing 
in  solemn  dignity  in  their  niches,  they  seem  saddened  and  indig 
nant  at  a  reverse  that  hath  changed  the  very  temple  erected  by 
Catholic  piety  over  their  ashes,  and  wherein  the  incense  of  ac 
ceptable  worship  was  offered  unto  the  Lord,  into  a  place  of  resort 
for  impious  aud  deluded  heretics  with  their  tasteless  rites.  Here, 
with  these  mournful  monitors  around  me,  I  cannot  indulge  in  pri 
vate  resentment  while  my  heart  is  breaking  for  the  sufferings  of 
my  people." 

"  It  is  a  holy  and  a  commendable  frame  of  mind,  my  brother,'* 
Baid  the  stranger.  "  O,  if  the  spirit  that  animates  thee  were 
universal  in  our  order,  how  might  the  wilderness  of  the  world  be 
made  to  blossom  as  the  Rose  of  Sharon,  and  the  lamentations  of 
Sion  be  converted  into  songs  of  deliverance! 


•  - 


- 


THE  LOST  HUNTER: 

A  TALE  OP  EARLY  TIMES. 

By  the  Author  of  "  THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GOLDEN  MELICE." 
12mo.     $1  25. 


"  The  style  is  fluent  and  unforced ;  the  description  of  character  well 
limned  ;  and  the  pictures  of  scenery  forcible  and  felicitous.  There  is  a 
natural  conveyance  of  incidents  to  the  denouement ;  and  the  reader  closes 
the  volume  with  an  increased  regard  for  the  talents  and  spirit  of  the 
author. — Knickerbocker  Magazine. 

"The  style  is  direct  and  effective,  particularly  fitting  the  impression 
which  such  a  story  should  make.  It  is  a  very  spirited  and  instructive  tale, 
leaving  a  good  impression  both  upon  the  reader's  sensibilities  and  morals." 

— Eclectic  Magazine. 

... 
"  A.n  interesting  plot,  dramatic  incidents,  characters  well  conceived  and 

executed,  picturesque  sketches  of  American  scenery,  and  a  satisfactory 
denouement,  are  the  elements  of  success  which  this  new  novel  invites." — 
Bailouts  Pictorial. 

"The  locale  of  the  story  is  at  Norwich,  Gt,  "the  time,  a  generation  ago, 
and  it  embraces  a  wide  range  of  characters,  and  brings  into  discussion  a 
variety  of  subjects.  There  is  no  feature  of  the  book  more  worthy  of  com 
mendation  than  the  Indian  ;  this  is  worked  up  with  great  fidelity  to  the 
character,  passions  and  legendary  history  of  the  aborigines,  and  exhibits  a 
rare  acquaintance  with  their  characteristics.  The  surprises  of  the  story  to 
the  reader  are  most  felicitously  arranged,  and  the  conversations  introduced 
are  keenly  bright.  "-^Springfield  Republican. 


"  The  author  of  this  work  has  not  favored  the  public  with  his  name — and 
why,  we  are  at  a  loss  to  know,  for  it  is  one  whose  authorship  no  one  need 
be  ashamed  to  acknowledge.  A  train  of  incidents,  now  pathetic,  now 
humorous,  and  now  marvelous,  is  woven  together  with  an  ingenuity  not 
less  happy  than  remarkable.  Any  reader,  so  intense  will  become  his 
interest,  who  shall  peruse  the  first  chapter,  will  find  it  difficult  to  lay  the 
book  aside  before  all  its  contents  shall  have  been  devoured.  And  more, 
and  better,  no  one  can  read  it  without  becoming  wiser  and  better— it 
abounds  with  wholesome  lessons." — Examiner.  ^ 

"  No  clue  is  given  to  the  author  of  this  story,  but  it  is  marked  on  every 
page  by  evidence  of  a  practised  pen,  of  great  dramatic  power,  of  ex 
perienced  judgment  of  character,  and  of  rare  powers  of  description."— Sf. 

Louis  Republican. 

"  Something  as  bright  and  cheery  as  the  blue  skies  and  sparkling  waters 
of  the  New-England  land  selected  for  the  scene  of  narrative  ;  as  quaint 
and  hearty  as  the  early  settlers  of  the  northeastern  Statrs,  whence  it 
draws  its  sketches  of  character,  and  as  wild  and  picturesque  in  places  as 
the  Indian  legends  of  that  "  long  time  ago"  it  so  cheerfully  describes. 

"  Savage  life  and  scenes  of  the  forest  are  interwoven  like  threads  of 
purple  and  crimson  with  the  pleasant  homespun  of  colonial  story  ;  and, 
ere  the  reader  has  ceased  to  smile  over  the  antics,  adventures  and  sports 
of  the  odd  specimens  of  early  Yankee  character  that  fill  the  foreground,  he 
is  charmed  into  silence  by  the  poetic  pomp  of  Indian  tradition  and  the  fiery 
display  of  Indian  loves  and  hatreds. 

"The  Lost  Hunter  is  a  fine  specimen  of  that  class  of  American  literature 
we  have  sought  to  encourage,  and  we  will  not  mar  the  enjoyment  of  those 
whom  we  hope  this  notice  may  attract,  by  any  brief,  imperfect  shadowing 
of  the  story.  Buy  it,  read  it,  and  you  will  find  it  amply  worth  the  time." — 
National  Democrat. 

"  We  were  prepared,  by  the  original  and  facetious  style  of  the  preface  of 
this  book,  for  something  out  of  the  beaten  track ;  nor  have  we  been  dis 
appointed.  The  ilot  is  ingeniously  concealed,  and  well  carried  out.  The 
delineations  of  <  aracter  are  admirable.  The  Indian  legends,  and  speci 
mens  of  Indian  e  quence,  are  some  of  them  surpassingly  beautiful  ;  while 
the  history  of  the  lero  is  so  exciting,  and  withal  so  shrouded  in  mystery, 
that  there  is  no  agging  of  the  interest  till  the  last  page  is  reached."— 
Vermont  Republican. 


443 
±351 


•**•• 


